The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-19
Secretary MetcaN's Report on
San Francisco Conditions
Goes TO Congress
CONSIDERABLE PROTECTION
FOR SUBJECTS OF JAPAN
Hopes Japanese Children Will Be Per-
n1tted to Go to School and That
Suit VIII Not Be
Necessary.

Washington, December 1S.-President
Roosevelt today sent to Congress a spe-
cial message, transmitting the final re-
port of Secretary Metcalf on the situation
affecting the Japanese in San Francisco.
The message follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
l inclose herewith for your infor-
nation the final report made to me por-
sonally by Secretary Metcalf on the sit
uation affecting the Japanese in San Fran
cisco. The report deals with three mat
ers of controversy-first the exclusion OF
the Japanese children from the San Fran
cisco schools second, the boycotting of
japanese restaurants. and, third, acts of
violence committed against the Japanese
As to the first matter, l call your es-
pecial attention to the very small num-
Der of Japanese children who attend
school, to the testimony as TO 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
requirement for them all to go to one
special school is impossible of fulflment
and means that they cannot have school
facilities. Let me point out further that
there would be no objection whatever to
excluding from the schools any Japanese
on the score of age. 1t is obviously not
desired that young men should go to
school with children. The only point
is the exclusion of the children them
selves The number of japanese children
attending the public schools of San Fran
cisco was very small. The government
has already directed tina suit be brought
to test the constitutionality of the act
in question; but my very earnest hope
is that such suit will not be necessary,
hat Of rn01itW the off
zens 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 admirably put by
Secretary Metcalf, and l have nothing to
ado to his statement / am entirely
confident that, as Secretary Metcalf says
the overwhelming sentiment 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 assured Secretary Metcalf
that everything possible would be done to
protect the Japanese in the city.
authorized and directed Secretary Met
calf to state that if there was failure
to protect persons and property, then the
entire power of the Federal Government
within the limits of the Constitution
would be used promptly and vigorously
to enforce the observance of our treaty,
the supreme law of the land, which treaty
guaranteed to Japanese residents every
where in the Union full and perfect pro-
lection for their persons and property;
and to this end everything in my power
would be done, and all the forces of the
United States, both civil and military
which I could lawfully employ. would be
employed. [ call especial attention to
the concluding rentence of Secretary
Metcalfs report of November %, 1906.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House.
December is, 1906.