Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-08
CROWDHEARS TWO SENATORS
Announcement That Lodge and Gearin Are
to Speak Fills Galleries
MASSACHUSETTS, MAN ON NEGRO TROOPS
Senator Defends Right of President go
Discharge Soldiers without
HonOr-senatOr Knox Has
Substitute Resolution.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 7.--President Roose-
velt's dismissal Of the negro troops was
again the subject Of contention In the SEN
ate today and indications point to pro-
tracted debate before any OF the pending
resolutions on the subject are voted on.
Senator Lodge developed a new phase of
the question by presenting a resolution pro-
vidlng for an investigation Of the ARRAY"
at Brownsville and by silence conceding
the authority of the president to take the
action he did. This action was supported
by Mr.. Lodge in an address and opposed
by Mr.. Foraker who spoke until $50, Civ
ing notice that he would conclude tomor-
row.
Previously to this debate the senate lis
tened to a two hours speech on the Jap
anese question by Senator Gearin who
argued for a resolution directing the open
ing Of negotiations with japan for a re-
vision Of our treaty with that nation.
The gallaries of the senate were oc-
cupied to their capacity today in anticipa-
ton Of further discussion of the Foraker
resolution respecting the Brownsville negro
troop investigation and because Of the
notice by Senator Gearin that he would
discuss the japanese question.
Senator Lodge called up the Foraker
resolution simply to say that he would fol-
low Mr.. Gearin's Japanese address with
remarks on the amendment he had offered
to the Foraker resolution, which amend
ment recognizes the constitutional and
legal authority of the president to take
the action he did in discharging the negro
troops.
Mr. Culbersou offered an amendment
which Senator Foraker accepted, authoriz-
ing the military committee to visit Browns
Vile, Tex, and take testimony. Mr.. Fora
ker then asked unanimous consent that the
resolution be made a special order daily
until disposed OF. Senator Hepburn OBJ
jected, saying there were other matters
of equal II not greater Importance demand
ing consideration. Mr.. Foraker gave notice
that he would renew his motion later.
Mr.. Gearin was then given the floor to
discuss the Japanese question.
Gearin on Jap Incident.
In what probably will be his only ex-
tended speech in the senate, Mr..
Gearin today discussed his resolu-
ton on the Japanese question, maxi
ing an argument in favor of the doctrine
of states rights and protection of labor by
the exclusion of coolies from both China
and Japan. He criticised the stand taken
by President Roosevelt on the Japanese
question as to his Interpretation of the ex-
listing treaty with Japan and charged that
the presidents position in regard to the
Introduction OF cheap labor as applied to
the Chinese was Inconsistent with his re-
cent message to congress in regard to the
treatment of Japanese on the Pacific coast
California" said Mr.. Gearin, '1s under
no obligations to the federal government
to have public schools or any kinds of
school at all. And If 1t does have them, 1t
is its province and not that of the gen.
eral government to say how they shall be
maintained and how conducted and under
what conditions.
Replying to the claim in the presidents
message that the treaty with Japan guar
antees to Japanese children the right to
attend the public schools of all the states
in the union and to attend them in COM
! pany with white children, Mr.. Gearin de-
MED emphatically that there Is any provi-
| sion In the treaty which by any sort of
construction can be made to support such
a claim.
! school Privileges Not In Treaty.
He said that nothing is said in the treaty
as to the right to attend public schools
| and that the specific enumeration of what
was intended by the trainers of the treaty
showed that nothing should be left to in
ference. He quoted from the treaty to
show that Japanese residing in this coun.
\ try may have the privileges enumerated
| only by conforming to all the laws, police
and customs regulations of the country
like native citizens and subjects, and thai
this meant state laws well as federal
laws. This government might as well
stand upon that Interpretation and decline
to consider 1t further" he said.
] m adVnpatinQ Modification Of ha
treaty which would restrict the immigra-
| ton OF the Japanese coolie labor, Mr.
| Gearin said that long as these laborers
are permitted to come into this country in
hordes there will be a constant and grow
| ing dissatisfaction on, the Pacific coast
which eventually must bring about restric-
ton. He spoke Of the influx OF cheap
japanese labor as a threatened peril to
every industry and enterprise of the United
States. 'In the school of bitter expert
ence." he said. I'VE have learned that the
unrestricted immigration Of Asatic laborers
to this country is a curse, an incentive to
disorder and a menace to the welfare and
happiness and prosperity OF the laboring
men of America"
Speaking feelingly OF the competition OF
the Chinaman. he told OF the recognized
necessity of bringing 1t to an end. and
| said:
Some of the means adopted to bring
! about that end were perhaps questionable,
might, perhaps, not measure up to the high
! standard set by the sentimental altrustic
| amateur political economists who prattle
| about the brotherhood OF man, might not
perhaps meet the approval Of the present
administration. But to those who under
! stand the situation. the revolt OF labor
against this ruinous ana degrading compe-
| tition was justihable, not only justihable
but commendable. and the Chinese exclus-
sion act has always been regarded by our
/ ne hest Dippa Of lpRigla tiOO hat
| was ever enacted for the Pacific coast and
for the nation indirectly.
America Must Protect Itself.
Mr.. Gearin pictured the probable results