Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-13

to the president of the United states
q telegram Of which the following is
= copy:
Sacramento March II, 1907:
"Hon. Theodore Roosevelt president
OF the United States, Washington y.
c.
"A bill Is now pending in our leeis-
lature to submit to the voters two
years from now the question as to
whether or not japanese labor shall
be excluded from this country. Will
the passage of this bill interfere with
any of your plans or make il more
difficult for you to accomplish what
you have undertaken to do in the way
of japanese exclusion?' Please answer
at once as our legislature is desrious
of knowing concerning It.
James NJ Gillett, governor of Cal
ifornia"
In reply to this telegram received
from the president the following mess
sage:
President Replies
"Hon, James N. Gillett, governor Of
California.
"I thank you for your kind ar u.
prompt attention to my request Pas
sage of a bill for submission to voters
of California whether Japanese labor
ers shall be excluded would interfere
with my plans and make 1t more diff
ficult for me to accomplish through
the national government what l am
trying to do in the way of Japanese
labor exclusion.
"The assumption of power by the
voters of California to settle this ques-
tion, II assented to by the national
government, would Immediately end
all my negotiations with Japan for
friendly settlement, because to nego-
tiate settlement we must have power
to settle, while on the other hand CAL
ifornia cannot negotiate treaty under
the constitution.
ut is, however perfectly clear that
under the constitution only the nation
al government can settle the question
of exclusion, and such vote of Cali
fornia, as is proposed, would have to
be treated as entirely nugatory, while
it would probably be regarded by those
opposed to exclusion as a threat to ig-
more the constitutional power of the
United States and exclude Japanese in
defiance of their treaty rights.
Sounds Warning
IT earnestly deprecate the passage Of
any legislation affecting the Japanese.
The national government now has the
matter in hand and can, in all human
probability, secure the result that CAL
ifornia desires. while at the same time
preserving unbrOken the friendly re-
lations between the United States and
Japan.
II have the interest OF California
most deeply at heart. 1 shall strive to
accomplish for California, as for other
states or sections of this country, ev-
erything that can conserve its honor
and it's interest. Any such action as
that you mention would merely ham
per the national government in the
effort to secure for California what
only the national government can Sc
cure. (Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
GiIlett Agrees
IT understand it is not the intention
of the legislature to pass at this ses-
sion any measure whatever affecting
the Japanese. l believe this to be ex-
cellent judgment on the part of the
Legislature, because to do so, as sug-
gested by the president, might inter-
fere with and hamper the national gov
ernment in making proper treaties with
Japan and bringing about the result
which California desires, towit: Jap
anese exclusion.
II forward this message of the pres
ident to you because l desire that you
shall know before adjourning the views
entertained by him at this time upon
this all-important question.
]. N. GILLETT,
Governor of California"