Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-20
BEATEN AND
B0YCOTTED.
JAPANESE ARE VICTIMS OF 9TH
Err METHODS THAN sEPARA-
TIoN IN SCHOOLS
REPORT TO CONGRESS
President Roosevelt Delivers Special
Message With an Appendix Consist
ing of Secretary Metcalf's Report of
His Findings on Investigation.


His Findings on Investigation.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-President|
Roosevelt today submitted the follow
ing message to congress relative to
the investigation of the Japanese sit
uation in California;:
TO the Senate and House of Represent
atives:
I enclose herewith for your informa-
ton the final report made to me per-
sonally by Secretary Metcalf on the
situation affecting the Japanese in San
Francisco. The report deals with
three matters of controversy-first, the
exclusion of the Japanese children from
the San Francisco schools; second, the
boycotting of Japanese restaurants,
and third, acts of violence committed
against the Japanese.
AS to the first matter, I call your es-
pecial attention to the very small num-
Der of Japanese children who attend
school, to the testimony of the bright
ness. cleanliness. and good behavior of
these Japanese children in the schools,
and to the fact that, owing to their be-
ing scattered throughout the city, the
special school is impossible of fulfill
ment and means that they can not
have school facilities. Let me point out
further that there would be no objec-
ton whatever to excluding from the
schools any Japanese on the score Of
age. 1t Is obviously not desirable that
young men go to school with children.
The only point Is the exclusion Of the
children themselves. The number Of
Oft ho In
schools in San Francisco was very
small The government has already
directed that suit be brought to test the
constitutionality of the act in question;
but my very earnes hope is that such
suit will not be necessary, and that as
a matter of comfy the citizens of San
Francisco will refuse to deprive these
young Japanese children of education
and will permit them to go to the
schools
The question as to the violence
against the japanese is most admir-
ably put by Secretary Metcalf, and I
have nothing to add to his statement. I
am entirely confident that, as Secretary
Metcalf says, the overwhelming senti-
ment of the state of California is for
! law and order, and for the protection
of the Japanese in their persons and
property. Both the chief of police and
the acting mayor of San Francisco as
4 sured@ Secretary Metcalf that every
thing possible would be done to protect
the Japanese in the city l authorized
and directed Secretary Metcalf to state
that If there was failure to protect per-
sons and proptrty, then the entire pow
er of the federal government within the
limits of the constitution would be used
promptly and vigorously to enforce the
observance of out treaty, the supreme
law of the land, which treaty guaran-
teed to japanese everywhere in the I'M
ion full and perfect protection for then
persons and property; and to this enc
everything in my power would be done
and all the forces of the United States
both civil and military, which I coulC
lawfully employ would be employed.
call especial atteption to the concluding
sentence of Secretary Metcalfs report
of November g. 1906
Theodore Roosevelt.
After reciting the events leading w
to the separation in the schools, The
secretary says:
Boycott.
"a boycott was maintained in Sal
Francisco from October to Octobel
"a by members of the Cooks and Wait
ers' union against japanese reStaur,
ants doing business in that city. Nearly
all of the leaders of labor organiza
lions in San Francisco, interviewed OF
this subject, disclaimed any knowledg
of any formal action being taken 70
the boycotting of these restaurants
They admitted, however, that Their
was decided sentiment in the union
against patronizing Japanese restaur
ants, and that the sentiment was ere
ated and fostered by speeches in uniol
meetings and by personal action of tn
different members with the object o
not only preventing union labor men
but the public as well, from patronizin
these restaurants.
THE secretary, as also the bushes
agent, of the Walters Union, Loca
No. 80, headquarters at 1895 Scot
street, San Francisco, said that no res
olution against Japanese restaurant
had been passed by their union, blu
that 1t was urged in their meetings an
by different members of the union t
themselves refrain, and to keep tn
public as well, from patronizing sue
restaurants; that for three weeks in tn
early part of October men We're EN-
ployed by the Cooks and Walters un
ion to stand in front of Japanese res
taurants on Third street and distribut
match boxes on which was pasted la
bel as follows: White men and WON
en-, patroniZe your own race that thi
was not strictly speaking, boycott, a
a boycott must be instituted throug
the labor council.
"As matter of fact, a most effectiv
boycott was maintained against nearl
all of the Japanese restaurants locate
in IAN francisco for period of
least three weeks. Pickets We're sta
toned in front of these restaurant
and every effort was made to prevel
people from patronizing them.
times stones were thrown and window