The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-19
STATEMENT Of
MAYOR SCHMITz
Passage of Amended Immigra-
ton Bill Has Paved the Way
for Japanese Exclusion.
SCHOOL QUESTION SETTLED
CERTAIN YOUNG JAps WILL BE
ADMITTED.

Washington. Feb 1S.-The basis Of
the agreement reached between Presi
dent Roosevelt, Secretary Root. Mayor
Sehmitz and the members of the San
Francisco school board on the Japan
csc school controversy. made public to-
night by Mayor Schmitz. provides thar
all children of alien races. under ne
years OF age, who speak the English
language, may be admitted to the white
schools. Special schools are to be es
tablished for children of allen birth
who are deficient in the elements of the
English language"
Mayor Schmitz's statement of the
agreement follows:
We find that the administration and
congress are entirely alive TO the stu
alton IN California, and anxious to
meet the wishes of the Californians
They are also DESTROYS Of keeping on
the best possible terms with Japan and
OF doing nothing which may break the
ancient friendship between that coun-
try and the United States.
Action Misunderstood.
1t has been explained to us that the
form of action taken by the school
board of San Francisco in relation to
the japanese school question has been
misunderstood and misconsfrued as an
attack upon the japanese, as such. and
that this misunderstanding and mis-
construction has been and now is one
of the chief obstacles to achieving the
purpose California really has in view
tins purpose being TO secure by hon.
efable and amicable agreement with
Japan the mutual exclusion from the
two countries of the laborers skilled
and unskilled. of each country This
earnest desire of the people of Califer-
Ma ana We may add, i'm cur belief. the
people OF the entire Pacific coast to
check the coming of Japanese Iaborers
and our entire willingness and desire
fat Japan should similarly put a stop
10 the going of American laborers
skilled and unsl1illed. to Japan. springs
from no motive other than TO bring
ABOUT commercial and industrial condi-
tons 10 the satisfactory understanding
OF the two friendly nations.
Exclusion Demanded.
Events have convinced us. however
that many, and probably most, of the
japanese laborers who come hither are
really brought over to this country i'm
violation Of the contract labor law. and
that the weil-being of our wage-work-
ers imperatively demands that inani-
grafton OF Japanese lab0rers to this
country, skilled and unskined, shall
cease. There are other countries as
all probability there win have to be
similar legislation, owing to the fact
that we are convinced that the labor
ers who come here from these coun-
tries also really come. in violation of
the contract labor law. We have every
reason to believe that the adrninistra-
tion now shares and that il will share
our way of looking at the problem. and
that the result We dcsire-the cessation
of the immigration of japanese labor
erS skilled and unskilled to this coun-
try-will speedily be achieved.
The Immigration Bill.
"A striking proof OF the administra-
tons attitude is shown by the passage
of the immigration bill. which will bar
out Japanese coming hither by way of
Hawaii. Mexico. Canada and the canal
zone, by enforcing the limitations
which Japan voluntarily puts INTO the
passports issued by her government
More than two-thirds of the japanese
laborers who come hither come from
Hawaii. Mexico and Canada, and in
our judgment almost all so coming
really reach these shores in violation
Of the contract labor law, although such
tact would be Well-nigh impossible to
prove in a court of law.
We are satisfied from our numerous
interviews with the president that i'm
the event that the amendment To the
immigration bill introduced in both
Houses of congress Feb. IL. shall prove
Intellectual for the purpose herein mem
toned and intended. every effort will
be made by him not only to obtain a
treaty with Japan authorizing legisla-
ton by both Japan and the United
States 10 exclude from each of their
prospective territories the immigration
of all subjects OF the other of said ma
tons who are iaborers. skilled and I'M
skilled, but in any event will favor such
form of legislation as will i'm the most
speedy manner accomplish the results
desired.
States Rights Not Menaced.
The nationsi government has no