The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-10
Visit WaShingtOnAll
In Vain Declares San
Francisco School
Official.
Only the Legislature OF
the State Can Do
What They're
Asked to Do.

The japanese school problem was
discussed by President Roosevelt,
Secretary Root, and the San Fran
cisco delegation, headed by Mayor
Eugene E. Schmitz, for over IN
hour yesterday afternoon.
in the words of Mayor Schmitz,
1T was purely a preliminary and
informal discussion OF how thiDgs
stand, and on Monday or Tuesday
we hope to get down to business"
Other members of the San Fran
cisco delegation who attended the
conference at the White House do
not appear to be impressed with
the prospects for a successful out
come to their visit.
Why we were called here is a prob
lem" said one Of those in the entour-
age OF San Francisco chief executive
The school board cannot repeal an act
OF the Legislature which provides for
separate schools for white and Mon
golian pupils. II the japanese ar. not
MOngOlians. what are they2 They don't
look like Swedes-
The sentiment Of all Californians IS
against permitting the cOmmiugIing OF
the Asiatic races with children in the
class rooms Of the public schools. You
cannot ask parents 10 let their daugh-
ters sit side by side with the little
brown boys from japan
Uncomfortable Sentiment.
This prevailing sentiment is not
within our power 10 control or answer
for We have withstood fire and earth
quake In San Francisco. and the threat
ot a japanese fleet standing of the
heads and shellinE the town. simply be
cause we want 20 choose our own com
pany and arrange our class rooms as
is best under the circumstances. does
not turn hair in our heads II Japan
wants 70 fight on the school boy PROPOSE
ton the best thing 20 let her fell 10 at
once.
"Send for Legislature"
To grant all that we expect will be
asked viii necessitate sending for the
entire Legislature Of California and re-
quire a poll Of noses throughout the
State. We do not want any more Jap
aEese coolies and we do not desire 20
have our children compelled to mix in
class with japanese pupils, not though
Japan threatens 20 draw a gun II
Japan wants TO fight, surely granting
her concessions viii only postpone the
fracas until something else comes up
The CaIiforniars will visit the Airing
ton Cemetery, the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition, ana Corcoran Art Gallery to
day. They received visits from Senators
u ali, III
Hayes. Needham, and Kahn, who paid
their respects TO the san Francisco DEL
eEatiOn. Monday afternoon they will
hold another conference with the Pres
ident when IL is expected that the Sec
retary Of the Navy. Victor II. MetcaIf.
who is a Californian. Mil be present 20
help out in adjusting the matters in
dispute.
President Urges Compromise.
No statement was given out at the
White House to indicate the position
taken by the President. II is under
stood from the best Of authority that tho
Executive told his callers very plainly
that the Government expected the school
board to reCeGe from its attitude of
antagOnism TO the Japanese and 70
throw open again its schools TO the
children OF that race.
In return for this concession. the
President is said to have assured them
the Administration would arrange with
the japanese government for the dis
continuance OF the immigration Of cool
ies. Unless the, San Francisco board
agrees TO make this concession. which
is a very small one. considering the fact
that the number Of japanese school
children who wish to attend is very linn
tied, the japanese government viii IN
all probability refuse to enter into any
agreement bearing upon the coOlie qucs-
ton. and the undesirable immigration
will continue in more menacing proper
uons than il has in the past
There is no COnCeaIinC the fact that
the failure to reach an agreement was
disappointing to those who have ralc
that the school authorities Of san Fran
cisco would yield 20 the Presidents de-
mand as readily as did the members Of