Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-19
MESSAGE ON METCALF'S REPORT
Senators Hale, Scott and Warren
Deplore Ever Increasing Ex-
pense of Army and Navy.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-President
Roosevelt today transmitted to Con-
gresS Sec. Metcalf's report on the
Japanese situation in California, ac-
companying it with recommendations
of his own. The Presidents message
was as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
SentativeS:
| inclosc herewith for your Informal
ton the final report made 10 me per-
sonally by Secretary Metcalf on the
situation affecting the japanese in San
Francisco. The report deals with three
matters of contrcversy-first the ex-
clusiOn of the japanese children from
the San Francisco schools; second, the
boycotting Of japanese retaurants
and. third, acts Of violence committed
against the Japanese.
As to the first matter, I call your
especial attention to the very small
number of japanese children who at
tend school, to the testimony as to the
brig htneSs. cleanliness, and good be-
havior of these japanese children in
the schools, and to the fact that. Ow
ing to their being scattered through
ont the city, the requirement. for them
all to 90 to one special school is inn
possible of fulfillment ard means thai
they can not have school facilities
Let me point on. further THAI there.
would be no objection whatever to cx-
Guiding from the schools any japanese
on the score OF age. 1t is obviously
not desirable that young men should
go to school with children. Tho only
point is the exclusion Of the children
| themselves. The number Of japanese
! children attending the public schools
| in san Francisco was very small. The
Government has already directed thu;
| suit be brought 10 test the constitutions
| ality Of the act in question: but m:
very earnest hope il that such sui
| will rot be necessary. and chat as Il
| matter of comfy the citizens of san
Francisco will refuse to deprive these.
young Japanese children " eincati"c
| and will hermit them 10 90 TO Tho
| schools.
The question as to the violence
| against the Japanese is most admit
rably put by Secretary Metcaif, and |
| have nothing; to add to his statements.
ain confident that Ga Socratart' Met
| calf says the overwhelming sentiment
| of tho state of California X for law
and order ard for nlot"ctinn Of thu
| japanese in their persons and rro!'-
| rrtN lso:h the chief OF pole and me
acting Mayor Of san Franc $50 aE-
surrd SEQ re:ary Mctcllt that every
| thing pDssiblc would bc done to pro-
| tect the japanese i'll the city. | az
thorizcd and directed Secretary Met
| calf to state that If there was failure
to protect person, and property, then
the entire power OF the Federal GOV
| eminent within the limits ~ thu Con
| ctitutiOn would u" used promptly ana
| vigorously to enforce tn" OBJ" rvanr''
| of our treaty. tn supreme law OF tn
land which treaty guaranteed u .i't;'-
ancSe Residents .V":yN nor" III the
Union fun and perfect pf"t""tl'n Tor
their persons and pro-, rty: and td
this end everything in lily power "ould
be done. and all III" forces Of The TINT :
ed States both civil and military
which | could lawfully employ, would
be employed. l call especial attention
to the concluding sentence of Secr"-
tary Metcalfs report of November %
1906.
Theodore Roosevelt.
The White House,
December Is. 1906.