Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-30
JAPANESE DEMAND
MORE PROTECTION
LEADING 0RIENTALS OF SAN
FRANCISCO PROTEST
Assert Acts of Violence Are Proof of
Racial Prejudice Against Their
Fellow countrymen-Issue
Statement
Rv Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO, May 29.-The
Japanese association, composed of
leading Japanese residents. today made
the following statement of the Japan
ese view of recent assaults committed
against Japanese in this city:
I'm the first place, the Japanese resi-
dents of San Francisco recognize the
fact that present conditions in this city
make it very difficult for the authorities
to extend full protection. They un-
derstand that the strike upon the street
railroads puts a heavy tax upon the
police force and that Ii is impossible
to guard all places al all times against
the laWless elements of the community.
"They are fully convinced, however,
that much of the violence to which
they have been subjected is due to
racial prejudice, and that the attempts
which are being made in certain
quarters. to have it appear that the
trouble is confined to quarrels between
laboring men, incidentally involving
the Japanese, are without foundation.
I'm support of this view they direct
to the fact that the Japanese
restaurants have been systematically
annoyed and simultaneously attacked
Hardly a day goes by, in the territory
demonstration is not made
by roughs and hoodlums against Jap
anese places Of business in that
quarter
After giving a number of specific
instances of attacks on Japanese
restaurants between May 20 and May
25 the statement continues:
Show Race Prejudice
"The uniformity of these expressions
Of hostility to Japanese enterprises
precludes the idea that they are the
accidental results of chance rows be-
tween white laboring men. They are
distinct in character from the
acts of violence growing out Of the
street car strike, where capital and
labor are at war. They are clearly
an expression of race prejudice, to
which the people Of no other national |
ty are at present subjected.
1.-The Japanese residents of San Fran |
cisco further insist that no provocation |
mas been given, or is being given, for |
these outrages. They are peacefully |
engaged in lawful occupations, the |
light to which is guaranteed to them
by treaty stipulations. They believe
hat they are fully justified in protest
ng against acts which place their
in jeopardy and their lives in
public criticism as attributes their
to mere caprice.
''They simply desire that the true
acts of these assaults should be placed
before the American people, believing
in the fairness and sense of
ustice of that tribunal.
'In the meantime they sincerely re-
;ret the necessity of calling for special
police protection but believe 1T wiser
o make that demand now, rather than
vait until some overt act of the
mob elements shall precipltate more
erious trouble and possibly blood
he'd
TOXIC, May 29.-The Ashahi this
morning in it's leader emphasizes, In
arefully guarded words, it's opinion of
he absence of sincerity on the part of
he San Francisco municipal officials to
protect the treaty rights of Japanese.
TOXIC, May ga leading news
,aper here referring to the recent at
acks upon Japanese in San Francisco
eminds the Japanese that they them
elves at one time, in obedience to anti
oreign sentiment, committed outrages
N Americans, but that the latter be-
aved with patience and moderation.
'he paper advises the nation to show
similar spirit.