Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-05
WAR WITH JAPAN.
Interesting Possibilities That Are un-
der Consideration In Washington.

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der Consideration In Washington.
The relations Of this government
with foreign powers have run along so
smoothly for so long time. says q
Washington dispatch, that even the
remote possibility of war cloud will
be received by many as a pleasing va
ration from the domestic topics with
which the country has been gorged
during the past few months. 1t will
take the public interest away from
corporations, negro soldiers, tariff re-
vision, currency legislation and such
things as that and give the people
something little more stirring to talk
about even IL 1t amounts to nothing
more than talk.
Men in public life in Washington,
however. talk somewhat seriously when
they suggest the possibility of war
with Japan and the contention Is heard
among both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis that the oriental power appears
to be determined to force a war IL she
can. 1t Is q significant fact that Sec
retary Taft in a letter to the senate
committee on appropriations urged in
creased appropriations for the erection
of Notifications Of Hawaii and stated
that there was "every reason why the
Notifications at Hawaii should be
made ready" Although the general
public was kept in ignorance OF all
tnat may have been behind the screen,
the committee must have been salts
fed that the situation was acute, for 1t
granted the money asked and subse-
quently the senate appropriated the
money without a word Of debate. The
house. doubtless will do likewise when
the matter comes UP.
The Japanese question became more
or less acute when the people OF San
Francisco refused to admit grown jap
anese men In the public schools where
small children were being taught. The
policy Of the administration apparently
friendly to the Japanese contention. in
famed the people Of the coast and the
situation has grown from bad to worse.
Japanese are coming into this country
through the Pacific ports by the ship
load. as there is no law against their
admission unless they come In violation
of the contract labor law. Recently
two shiploads were detained to investi-
gslte whether they were under contract.
This Is done with regard to other ma
tions, but Japan at once entered a
vigorous protest.
Evidences Of unrest and uneasiness
are manifest on all sides. Among 9TH
er things It Is stated that those Japan
ese on the island of Hawaii, veterans
Of the war with Russia, have organized
military bodies that they may be ready
for any emergency. Whatever may be
the real facts, 1t Is considered signifi-
cant that the war department should
suddenly ascertain that the necessity
of fortifying the island is imperative,
and this demand is coupled with the
announcement that there Is not on the
island q fortification Of any sort that
would he Of account in time Of war.
The situation Is. apparently, fraught
with danger and the president Is ex-
ercising himself to settle by diplomacy
that which some Of his advisors hold
the japanese will accept. II not set
lied to their satisfaction, as a pretext
Of war. BY way Of criticism. some
public man. now that danger seems
possible, even II remote. point to the
fact that the genesis of the whole
matter may be found in the sentiments
Of the president on the Japanese school
question in his annual message to con-
gress.