The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-02-12
Firm Demand for Exclusion of
Japanese Coolies Is Made
School Matter Unimportant as Compared With
Future of U. S. Workmen--CIash In
creases Gravity of Situation

/ Washington, Feb l1--As result
of an hours conference at The WhitC
House today at which President
| Roosevelt, Secretary Root, Mayor
Schmitz of San Francisco and mem
bers OF the school board of that city
participated Schmitz tonight made a
statement summarizing the situation
When asked the direct question OF
whether the proposition submitted by
the San Francisco delegation called for
the exclusion Of Japanese coolie labor
from this country, Schmitz replied:
1--WE are not making treaty, and
have not decided with the president
| for the excluding of the Japanese from
this country. On Saturday we heard
the presid nt's views and today we
| presented our side of the question at
issue. 1t now remains for us TO mod
| ify our view in order to reach an ar.
greement with the president or for
Roosevelt to modify his views to reach
an agreement with us. Toiay's con
ference was adjourned subject to call
of the president. | do not believe
we VIII be called 10 the White House
again until Thursday or Friday"
II has been agreed that the whole
matter will be considered at a sab.
met meeting tomorrow.
Messages Urge Exclusion.
Schmitz and other members of the
San Francisco delegation have re-
ceived hundreds OF teieggams urging
them TO advocate a treaty excluding
Japanese laborers and legislation BY
congress to carry the provisions OF
this treaty into effect.
The mayor has admitted TO the
members of the California delegation
in congress that, while he is very
anxious TO reach a satisfactory agree
ment with the president and stands
willing to make any concessions that
will be for the good of the whole coun
try, yet he hes tates in making any
agreement that will not meet with
the approval of the people Of Cali
fornia.
The San Francisco delegation today
presented their demands in writing
While no statement was made on this
point, it is generally understood that
the exclusion of Japanese coolies was
the chief feature of the westerncrs'
contention, and that they will abso-
lutely refuse to back down on this
point
Ready to Rescnd School Order
The delegation has no objection to
a treaty, but it is declared that IT
must be followed and REINFORCED by
such laws as will provide machinery
for actually preventing the entrance
of coolies. and under which they can
be deported after effecting an entrance
by fraud and deception. Mayor
Scbmitz and his associates are per-
ftctly willing 10 suspend or rcscind
the order prohibiting the admission OF
Japanese TO the primary schools oi
San Francisco, but they desire in re-
turn a definite assurance that coolies
will hereafter be barred. The school
question in their opinion, is a matter
of no serious consequence. the com
petition of Japanese working men with
labor on the japanese coast consti con |
the real menace.
The framing of this proposition |
seems to indicate the utter failure
of the conference now being held be- J
tween the president and the San
Francisco delegates. This necessary
adds materially to the gravity OF a
situation which the president has re-
peatedly declared presages an open
rupture between the United States
and Japan.
The basic principle on which the
president seeks a solution is fuD
between Americans and jap
anese. He cannot open gotiations
o1 any other theory. After that pre-
liminary principle has been estab-
lishcd. the reciprocal exclusion Of
IS 10 be arranged.
Coolies the Chief Objection.
When asked a. to the general tone
Of the kilograms received from San
Francisco. Sihmiiz said:
"The people Of California doa't give I
a rap about the school question. but
they are opposed to the admission of
japanese coolies into this corntry'
The members Of the California del /
egation in congress tonight expressed I
ignorance Of the nature of the basis
of the settlement proposed by the
uresident today. Secretary Loeb 1
announced that there would be no /
statement regarding the conference /
from the White House. Secretary /
Root remained with the president
some time after the Calif0rnisns left |