The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-30
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JAPANESE:
QUESTION.
Another Correspondent Defends tho
JaPanese and Dcnounccs she YeIlOws.


Editor National Tribune: In the
National Tribune of Jan. "a | read
in the editorial columns the following:
ELSEWHERE we give a letter from a
comrade in regard to the japanese
question in California. 1t is a frank
and, we think, complete statement o?
the situation. | turned with much in
terest to the article, and as | read
confess to establishment constantly in.
creasing at the kind of frankness man
ifeSted by the writer. who | see, pre-
ferS that the reader shall not know
his name. j wish TO notice some of his
statements. He repeatedly refers to
the japanese as Mongolians. The San
Francisco Chronicle has been the
leader in the raid upon the japanese,
the most rabid and insistent influence
on the Coast. 1t now is urging new,
State law to cover the Japs, admitting
that I'VE do not think it can be proved
that the japanese are Mongolians; the
origin of the Japanese is not known"
AIRY school teacher. if qualified to teach,
should know that the State law he says
so much about has no application to
the japanese, who are not Mongolians
He tells of The Oriental school
which was established in 1887. finely
equipped. effectively disciplined, and
taught by the best of teachers But
that was destroyed, and the present
school, its location and ability to get
to it make it very different condi-
ton.
He tells of the first Japs. so
neat and clean, then that "A rougher
set OF adult Japs began to invade the
country and crowd into the schools"
The investigation made by Mr.. Metcalf
for the Government and by Rev. +. D.
Bovard. ID. D.. editor of the Advocate,
both show total of less than 100 in
the entire twenty-three schools, tina,
their ages range from six to twenty
years Cthere being but two of the lat
teri, and he had already stated that
the State law limited attendants to
twenty-one years and less. Mr. Bow
ard interviewed number of the teach
ers, and every one said the Japs were
of no detriment TO the school, aver
aged with white children of The same
ages. and they did not desire their re-
moval. An average of five in each
school could be no injury.
1T is generally felt throughout the
Coast that the school question is only
a willy Monaghan pretense' to bring
on a war. Absurd! But what igno-
rance as to the feeling on the Coast"
The Superintendent of the Schools of
this city in a published statement says
the japanese in our schools are clean
oiueiIy, APT 10 ledTil, are SfdueI VIII.
those of their age, that no one has "A
thought of objection to their attend
ance. This San Francisco teacher
grossly misrepresents this part of the
Coast. At San Diego an educational
convention was held not long ago and
an anti-Japanese resolution was intro
duced and Overwhelmingly defeated
This talk of war is the offspring of
yellow journalism. Bishop NJ. c. Har-
vic picln Of
Korea, for many years before elected
Bishop missionary in Japan, and for
some years experimenting the work on
this Coast, spent the time from his
election il 1904 to few months ago
in Japan and Korea, since which he
has made visit to this country in the
interest of his work. l heard him
make most interesting address, in
which he declared that the Japs have
no desire for war; that the stuff in
the press tending to excite fears and
hatred is criminal. OF similar charac-
ter is that talk OF teacher" about
'highborn spirit of American boys
who will defy troops and powers ct
al, and worry the life out of the
brown boy" That is fine talk for 4
gentleman school teacher. Admit
that it is frank" but save us from
the influence on the boys of such
frankness. Finally teacher says 1.-The
segregation was prompted by the COM
plants of white parents, and the voice
of the press against japanese, mainly
coolie adults. crowding white children
out of congested schools and endan-
gering the health and the morals of
the Caucasian children" Notice, only
SO in % schools; not much crowding
| by that number; also that there is not
a creole adult" among them; and last,
that the universal opinion, save of .
few in San Francisco, is that those who
attend our schools are as clean and
healthy and moral as any white chill
dren. And DIR. Bovard says that The
prompting was by the "Anti-Japanese
association of foreigners, curbstone or
ators and rousta about politicians"
| No, the San Francisco School
Teacher is badly afflicted. l fear,
with race prejudice, and gives very
one sided incomplete and erroneous
statement of the case.
| Perhaps you had concluded that the
article. was so complete that nothing
more need be said, but i hope you will
give your readers this side of the ques-
ton written by comrade and an ole
school teacher whose name isl n
Liscomb, Los Angeles, Cal.