The San Francisco call., 1907-03-10
SIX CONFERENCES HELD

The President. Secretary Root the Board Of
Education and myself held six conferences. at
which thoroughly considered every phase
OF the public school question relative 10 the
japanese, wei as the probabilities OF enacting
'9ournnent OF tcneress. We were INFORMED Dy
our representatives il Congress that they had
done everything possible % obtain Legislation
by treaty, OF otherwise, providing for the ex-
clusion of japanese lsb0rers. skilled and un-
skilled They had not succeeded. and they
lcorr0b0rated the statement OF the President
thai no exclusion law could be ngSsed M this
session. but that steps had been taken toward
the enactment II the desired law at the next
session OF Congress During various
ferenees with the President presented at
great length the views OF the people Of this
many reasons why from the standpoint Of
organized labor, the enactment Of a law posi-
desirable. We were informed that although
the President willing TO give his aid
in obtaining these desired results II too
late IN the session 70 pass an exclusion law. and
that be was estopped from obtaining exclusion
BY treaty for various diplomatic reasons, chief
among which was the very earnest objection
by japan o. the phraseology OF the res0lu-
tion Of the Board Of Education whereby Jap
anese Pupils had been segregated
II urgently suggested that. under the
conditions presented 20 us. IL would be
TIE part Of wisdom TO change the Language OF
tie end thst, by the removal OF terms TO
which objection had been made. although with
ia any manner surrendering any Of our
rightS IN the premises. the way would be the
mere easily opened FOR immediate exclusion
under such law might be enacted before
the adjournment Of Congress aud for q stronger
treaty and an absolute exclusion law at the
most earnestly made ms hy the Presi-
dent OF tho United States. by the Secretary
OF State and by members OF the California dele
cation IN Congress.
The resolution OF the Board Of Education
under date Of october il. 1906. TO which OBJ
lection was made by Japan provided in terms
that Japanese pupils should be segregated with
Chinese and Korean children in the Oriental
School The authority for this resolution was
found IN article X section 1862 o: the Political
Code of California. Now. the onensiTeness OF
tins resolution 70 Japan was not - much m
the aggregation itself IN the placing of
the japanese on the same level with the Chinese
and the Koreans. II became apparent. after a
very complete discussion OF the subject that
II the intent or the resolution couched
IN different language, al possibility of OBJ
jection would be removed by the elimination Of
the objectionable terms such a change. while
not altering the policy Of the Board OF Ednca-
non Of regulating by resolution the admittsnce
of japanese children into the public schools.
law placing in the hands Of President Roose-
Welt the power 10 exclude Japanese laborers.
skilled and unsklled. We had received tue
would exercise this power IN the interests OF
the Pacific Coast. and in the particular interest
OF our workingmen
AMENDMENT AGREED TO
Under these conditions and with this distinct
seatatiyes and Senators Of California and the
other Pacific Coast States, an amendment 10 the
immigration bill Is Il. No. 1903 was drawn.
submitted 10 conference committee OF the
House and the Senate and passed by Congress.
That amendment reads as follows:
Provided. further. That whenever the Presi-
dent shall be satisfied thar passports issued by
any foreign Government % its citizens 10 90 to
any country other than the United States 10
any insular possession OF the United States
TO the canal being used 10. tie pur-
pose OF enabling the holders 20 20 the
continental territory OF the United States 20 the
detriment Of labor conditions therein the Presi-
dent may refuse 10 permit such citizens Of the
country issuing such passports 10 enter the
tincntal territory OF the United States from such
otller country or from such insular Possessions
from the canal zone"
This amendment empowers the President To
dcny admittance 10 the United States Of JapR-
laborers. skilled unskiiIed- seeking en-
trance by way Of sfexico Canada. Honolulu. the
Philippines. the canal or any ether part
~ the land. The extent Of its importance will
be appreciated by even cIlrsOry eXamiua ton
~ tllr statistics showing the number Of Japa-
nese who have entered the United States through
this port Most Of these imm grants were labor
who rema ined ln OaiifOrnlf or elsewhere OF
the Pacific Coast. By far the greater number ~
japanese coming 10 San Francisco arrive from
tho Hawaiian Islands. During the yeaIs
ended December 90, 1905. the total addition
JHpanese population from the Hawaiian ISL
into consideration all departures OF japanese
from ffis port. The very great majority Of these
IaDancSe immigrants detrimental 70 the
labor conditions and are directly subject 10 the
nov iaw.
There Is no reason 70 doubt ftst without an
exclusion law the influx Of japanese into Csii-
fornia would he much greater during the pres
wear and the next than during the past two
wears But the amendment 10 the imm era tion
bill iusi pnssed by Congress shuts the doors
the President keep them cut. and without
ans delay cr"cnf fhaf necessifrfed by trim