The San Francisco call., 1907-01-31
Request Puzzles
Local Officials

In response TO the call of the Presi-
dent for meeting in Washington i'm
mediately upon the subject of the eX-
clusion of = Japanese from all public
schools here except those set apart for
them. il is probable that all the mem
bers of the san Francisco Board OF Ed
ucation. superintendent of Schools Ron
covieri. City Attorney Burke and United
States Attorney Devlin Will journey to
the capital
Last night President Lawrence Walsh
of the board and Superintendent Rom
cOvieri received duplicates of the fol-
lowing telegram:
AT the request Of the President and
Secretary of State we ask you to come
here Immediately for a conference with
them and with the California delega-
Bion. JULIUS KAHN. f. a. HAYES
President Walsh at once telephoned
all the members that the matter would
be discussed at a special executive ses-
sion of the board between 10 and u
o'clock this morning.
When asked the reason for this call,
Walsh said that it was a surprise. to
him and he could not imagine the Pres
ident's motive. He said:
we Will of course. be glad OF the
opportunity to explain the reason for
the stand we have taken 10 the Presi-
dent personally. but i will say that it
would be impossible for US to recede at
all from our position because we are
acting under the laws of the State OF
California.
Judging from this call the PTesi-
dent thinks that the matter is Of para
mount Importance. and he is right. IL
is a national question, point inVoiV-
ing the Interpretation of article VI OF
the constitution and amendments TX
ha
vides that the Judges Of all States shall
be bound by treaty laws. anything in
the constitution or laws Of the respec-
tive States TO the contrary notwith-
standing The amendments provide
that the enumeration in the constitu-
tion OF certain rights shall not be con-
strued TO deny or disparage others re-
tanned by the people. The powers not
delegated 10 the United States are re-
served to the states respectively or to
the people.
This and other legal phases Of the
situation will be canVassed at tomor-
row mornings session OF the board, but
I cannot forecast the results of our
deliberations. 1t is probable that all
the members viii go to Washington.
but I do not know just when. We will
start as soon as possible.
City Attorney Burke. who returned
last night. from Sacramento. where he
has been watching the progress OF his
bill amending the State law so as to
specifically exclude Japanese and Ko-
reans from the white schools, when
asked his idea Of the meaning OF the
call. said he had not heard OF it. IL is
probable that he will accompany the
board as its legal adviser. He reported
faVorably on the progress of his
amendment toward final passage.
Superintendent Roncovieri Will take
with him for the. inspection of the
President and the Secretary of State
a photograph which illustrates the
japanese school problem here more elo-
ouently than words. IL was taken in
the Clement Grammar School before
the fire OF last April showing a class
in one of the lower grades. In the pic
ture there is striking contrast be-
tween the adult appearance of the
japanese and the childlike face of the
American little girl beside him in the
schOolroom.
'Roncoyieri said last night that he
was prepared to go at once and was
only waiting to hear from President
Walsh of the board before proceeding g
to the capital in accordance with Presi-
dent Roosevelts wish He was at a
loss as to what the President wanted
with the board and himself.