Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-06-28
WASHINGTON LETTEH

(Erom our regular CORES ponueui.
Washington, u. G., June % N 9TH
ing has happened for a long time to
more stir up the opponents of the ad
ministratiOn both south and west than
the decision of udge Swaine of Flori-
da this week that Japanese settlers
could be naturalized in this country.
Tneir right to this privilege has been
the chief stun bling block to the SET
Element of the present Japanese con.
troversy, and while there is no specific
law against it,sthere is no spec'f ic pro-
vision for it and the matter Is left to
the decision of any court of original
jurisdiction that wants to take a
chance Oh it. More than that there is
no provision for al appeal from the
ruling of the court unless it might be
through the roundabout method Of
challenging the Jap's vote at the first
election and subsequently carrying the
case to the Supreme Court.
The naturaliz alton law is curiously
indefinite on the suhj CT. 1t provides
for the naturaliz itiou of any alien who
IS free, white, or of African birth or
African descent. 1t leaves 1t to be in
ierred whether the Japanese are in-
Guided in the Rather loose term Of
white
The action of Judge Swaine who is
| merely an appointee to the bench IT
Florida and native of Delaware. has
aroused bitter comment. 1t will be
remembered that he WAS impeached by
the House but let off by the Senate. Ii
is declared in many quarters that hit
escape was through political Influence
and that bis decision In the JAPANESE
case at the present critical time is
payment for this aid. Or course TIT
decision of his court is not binding on
court of equal jurisdiction in AM
other part of the country, but it help
| to cOmplicate matters ard doubtless
will be used by the pro japanese ele
ment to pOiut out that the Japanes
q uestion Is already legally settled anG
tnat there is no reason Jap should no
be naturai1zed In any part OF th'
country. One thing is very certain
and that is that no court on the Paci
fic Coast is likely to follow Judg,
Swalne's lead and japanese who wan
to be naturalzed had better 60 t
Florida.
There is a lively row on just now il
the Office of the Supervising Architec
of the Treasury. the office where tn
plans are prepared for government
buildings all over the country. Thi
is 3 big Office and employs over 10
d. aughtsmen, all of them high grad
me- and VIII have always worked to
gethar in reasonable harmony. Blu
something over month ago, the Civi
Service Commission when there was
vacancy, certified three names of mel
to fill it. One was selected and to tn
disgust of the other dranghtsmen whe
, ne arrived to 60 to work he was foun
to be negro. There are good man
negroes employed in the department
but they are mostly messengers and la
bOrers and when they are clerks, the
, usually work more or less to them
, selves where they do not necessaril
!, come into contact with the white en-
ployes. But With the draughtsmen
is different. They may have to wor
On The same sheet of drawings and a
the same board with the other draught:
men. Two of the employees of tn
Architects Office resigned immediate
, ~ on the first appointment. The 9th
) .rs grumbled but did nothing. Las
, week there WAS another negro al
pointment, and this week matters cam
TO head. At the close of the day
j work the men all 60 to the lavatory t
4 wash up, and the new negro, Woodso
by name, pushed into the crowde
room and selecting the smallest ma
. who was at one of the basins, delibe
] ately showed him away and took b
. place. Ryder. the white man was nc
, only small, but mild hammered an
generally considered an easy mark.
But in about five seconds, the air wa
. full of soap, water and fists, and tn
new negro was mixed up with til
plumbing under the stationary was
stand. His fellow negro reached fc
his hip pocket and started into th
fight, but the other draugntsmen tire,
him into corner and formed a ring I
+ see fair play, Woodson got up and cam
back for more punishment, got
promptly and got up more slowly :
, then the men were separated, Ryde
! fairly weeping because be had not bee
, allowed to finish the job. There is a
.. official investigation Uf the affair goin
on in the Treasury now and it seem
, likely to result either in the eImins
, ton of the negro appointees or the res
ignation of the whole of the whit
draughtiDg force.
Bids have been received for the tw
10000 ton battle ships that were au