The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-02-09
FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT IN
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL MATTER
Is BITTERLY SCORED.
BLAMES FOREIGN POLICY
In Regard to Pacific Colonies For
Present Japanese strife, But De-
clares Our Constitution
Must Remain.


croachment on state rights, with the
Japanese school question as the prin
clpal Illustration. was the subject oi
an address to the senate today by Sen
ator Frazier, of Tennessee.
Mr.. Frazier said that this was not a
qCettion that concerned California,
but concerned the right of every state
10 control is domestic affairs. II the
federal government by treaty could
rob a state Of the right 10 control its
Cwn school system, The last rong
hold of local self.goyernment was do
stroyed. If a treaty could force Mon
fornia, like treaty could force the
negroes of Cuba, Santo Domingo Hay
II and the Congo into the achools OF
Tennessee in defiance Of the laws for
the separation of the races. He eX
pressed the highest admiration for
the Japanese but said that the action
of California furnished no preteXt for
quarrel with that country. The school
board of San Francisco had simply
executed q state law providing for the
education of white and Japanese chill
dren in separate schools. It had been
decided over and over again that
ates had a perfect right to make
such separation; that the state of Cal
ifornia was but exercising its legal
and constitutional power.
Does Not Cover School Case.
He denied with emphasis that this
government had ever undertaken by
treaty 10 interfere with the constitu.
tlonal rights Cf California in this re.
spect. Quoting the language of the
treaty he said: II challenge anyone
TO find in II a word guaranteeing to
Japanese residents the right to en-
ter public schools of the states at all,
much less to enter them in defiance of
state laws and regulations"
The United States government can
not compel a state to create public
schools at all The schools were Gre
atures of state law. maintained by
state taxation and subject only to
state control. The right of residence
guaranteed TO the Japanese implied
The right to work and make a living
but not to go to school. But even if
the right of residence did carry with
IT the right to enter public schools,
he added. it did not carry any exemp-
lion from the right of separation IN
the schools. The treaty with Japan
p;Ovided that the Japanese must con
form themselves TO the laws police
aud regulations OF the country like
native citizens. Can It be contended
that Japanese aliens have acquired
higher privileges than they would
have as citizens of the United States"
He cCnteuded that the president
ought to have followed the example of
Mr. Blaine, in the case of the lynch.
ing of Italian citizens in New Orleans.
There was treaty with Italy which
guaranteed protection TO Italian citi-
zens. but when the Italian govern
ment complained Mr.. Blaine informed
it that Italian ci liens had no higher
rights than American citizens and that
the right to punish for murder was he
exclusive province of the states where
the crime was committed.
Must Not Change Constitution.
Mr.. Frazier said he did not believe
we had reached he point where we
must apologize for our constitution or
change its character by construction
at the dictation Of foreign power.
Our trouble with Japan. he said. had
its origin in our colonial policy which
had inspired P fear in the nations Of
the east that we were attempting 70
dominate the politics and commerce of
the Orien'.
Mr.. Frazie dwelt at length on the
recent speech Of Secretary Root
which he declared TO be a threat 70
wipe out state lines and absorb all
powers Of The states into the federal
government. He quoted the president
statement that Mr.. Root was the chief
cNposiio- of the policies of his admin
istrst on. Mr.. Root had boldly de-
clar d that if the states did not cxcr-
risc their powers as they ought to
they would be taken from them by ex
ccutive and judicial construction. The
federal executive. he said. was to ca
tsblish a cen n-orship to decide whether
or not the states we're properly exer-
cising their powers and If in It's judg
ment they were not, the rights we-e
To be taken away.
When. he said. "the states are de-
priyed Of the right to judge whether
and how far they shall exercise their
rowers We cease 70 be a free people.
Tho SECRETARY intimated that this
usurpstion- of power was necessary TO
control the trusts. Before seeking TO