The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
SENATE MAY BALk
PLANS Of The
PRESIDENT

Tn[0lD[Wl
cession the United States can well
afford to concede to Japan the right
to segregate American school children
in Japan, since there are very few
American children there.
This plan is suggested as an admir-
able manifestation of the equality of
Japan in the making of treaty af-
fording her an opportunity to recede
gracefully from the protest that she
has made against discrimination
against Japanese children in California
and remove absolutely any further pre-
text for a grievance on that score.
SENATORS SEE OBSTACLES
Some of the Republican members of
the committee on foreign relations
seem to think that an agreement along
these broad lines may be accepted by
the Senate, but other Republicans have
their doubts. A member Of the COM
mittee said today: There can be no
objection to recognizing Japan as an
absolute equal in making a treaty but
Japan can do certain things which we
are precluded from doing under the
constitution. If 1t is proposed to sub
nit treaty agreeing to the exclusion
OF American laborers from Japan, such
treaty would of course never be rati-
fed. We cannot enter into any bargain
that makes a distinction between
American citizens.
we can agree to the exclusion Of
all Americans from Japan, but we can
not agree that laborers shall be ex-
cluded while all other Americans may
go there. Such treaty, if we should
be foolish enough to make it, would be
knocked into cooked hat by the Su-
preme Court on the application of any
American laborer who might wish to
test his rights.
CANNOT DISCRIMINATE
1T does not matter whether Ameri-
can laborers wish to go to Japan or
not. Perhaps there is not one who
cares to go. But all American citi-
zens have equal rights which cannot
be infringed. 1 hardly think that the
President and Secretary Root can seri-
ously contemplate any such provision
in treaty with Japan. If they want
the laboring people of the United
States to rise and sweep the Republi-
can party from power, let them go
ahead with the attempt. OF course
they see this point as clearly as any
body else.
therefore / think 1t is safe to say
that whether japan is willing to agree
TO the exclusion of her laborers or not,
the United States will never agree
that American laborers shall be ex-
cluded from japan. 1t makes no diff
ference whether the attempt is made
to exclude American laborers from ia
pan by treaty or by recognizing the
right of Japan to enact laws exclud-
ing certain Americans. We cannot
M a xx-i+
which attempts to deprive any Ameri-
can of any right which is to be enjoyed
by any other American. That is so
obvious that no indirection or subter-
fuge can obscure II.
STATES RIGHT FUNDAMENTAL
AS to the suggestion that the pro-
posed treaty with Japan shall grant to
Japanese In this country all the privi-
leges enjoyed by subjects of the most
favored nation, there can be no objec-
ton to that If 1t stipulates that the
United States will not attempt to
guarantee to Japanese children the
right to attend the public schools of
State. / think that the right of a
State to control it's own school sys-
tenn is fundamental Rather than sur
render such a fundamental right under
pressure from foreign nation should
prefer to go to war.
'The institutions OF this country
were bought at the cost of war If 1t
were necessary to preserve them
would welcome another war It is
more important in my opinion to safe
guard the institutions Of this republic
than it is to placate Japan or any other
nation"
DO you have any knowledge which
leads you to attach any Importance to
the Presidents intimation that Japan
is seeking pretext for WARP"
WAR SOON, IF AT ALL
II have no more knowledge than the
President has. None of us is in pos
session of the secret motives of Japan
However, If japan thinks that a con-
f1ict with the United States is inevit-
able, she is likely to provoke war soon
The Philippines are unfortified, our
navy is smaller than it will be, and the
Panama canal Is not in existence. In
a few years the Philippines will be
we'll defended and the effectiveness of
the navy will be doubled by the canal
Every year will see the United States
in a better position relatively than
Japan. If Japan intends to fight she
will fight soon, In my opinion.
IF Japan does not want war she will
not fight over the school question or
anything else. But if she does seek a
conflict she will easily find a pretext
If the school question is settled some
other excuse will be found without diff
ficulty.
"The school question, in other words,
Is not the great question involved
The real question is whether Japan
thinks that 1t is to her interest to seek
war with the United States. We know
that the people of Japan are resent
full toward us because they think that
they were deprived of a big indemnity
from Russia through our intervention.
We know that they regard themselves