The Washington herald., 1907-02-09
FRISCO ENJOYS HERE
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE

for the good OF the country, so that It will
be possible to make a treaty with japan
| in the event Of the settlement Of the
school question. II is more than prOba-
bic that the CalifOTnians also will take
this view Just what the adjustment will
be IS, OF course. undetermined, but IL is
considered likely that the school board,
once It hears what President Roosevelt
has TO say, will recede from the stand il
has taken.
Mayor Schmitz said last night, an hour
or so after his arrival, that be could not
discuss the pending questions. This was
because he had been invited 10 come here
by the President for a conference. and it
would not be proper TO enter into dis
cussion of the dispute until after be and
his colleagues had seen the President.
The mayor said enough, however, TO show
that he was in a receptive attitude, and
ready 10 listen with attention TO anything
President Roosevelt might have 10 say.
His attitude is not beIligeTent. Among
other things, he said
'All this talk that we have taken a firm
stand on this question and are not ready
10 listen TO any one Is without foundation.
IT IL were true that We are not prepared
TO consider any proposition or arguments
laid before Us concerning the action the
school board has taken. what would be the
use Of our coming down here 10 attend the
conference? If we were so firm IN our
convictions that we could not see the
other side there would be nothing to dis
cuss. ] have not said at any time that /
intended TO stand pat or that any one
would have to show me-
Not Proper TO Talk.
Il am willing to say that no Califor-
nian will stand on technicalities e Il Is
shown that the welfare of the whole
country will be affected by any attitude
that has been taken.
Instead Of wanting 10 impede the ef-
forts Of the japanese to acquire learning
we took the very best mode Of further
Ing their ambition. and that was by seq
TegatOn. But few Of them could speak
English al all well, and by separating
them from the white children We put
them where a teacher would be able TO
| devote to them special attention and far
more time than could have ordinarily
been granted. This was clearly for their
benefit if they really desired rapid adj
vancement in their studies The truth
is that at the bottom Of the controversy
lies the question of pride Of race. The
japanese consider themselves very great
iy the superiors Of the Chinese, and did
not like TO be Classcd with the Chinese
as 'Mongolians' Though it was in their
interest To be separated from the whites.
Juasmuch as that would involve a sup
posed lowering TO the Chinese level. the
japanese pride was touched and hence
the difficulty.
AS far as regards the legal question
of the right Of the san Francisco school
board to make the order Of exclusion,
t-f-
Secretary Richard Olney has stated the
/ case precisely and his logic is unsur-
mountable.'
Schmitz in Control.
( Mayor Schmitz appears 10 be the man
/ who is running things. The school board
was appointed By him, and is strictly
under his control. He has the power TO
| remove any member at any time, and
/ of course any suggestions Of policy he
may make win be carried out by the
board
/ President Roosevelt will explain to the
/ mayor and the school board the feelings
/ of the government here on the matter Of
exclusion Of japanese children from the
/ public schools OF san Francisco. He Will
point out that il Is source of irritation
1 to the japanese people which should be
I removed. because If Il is not removed
( il viii be practically impossible to neg0-
/ tiate any sort Of a treaty tending toward
/ exclusion Of japanese from the United
! States
/ Some days ago President Roosevelt was
quoted as referring 10 Mayor Schmitz as
! the "bassOon-p playing mayor. Mayor
Schmitz said that he doesn't know how
10 play a hassoOn. It is a violin with
which he is proficient.
japanese Agent Arrives.
The japanese viii be represented by
/ Dr. Aujakawa, who arrived in Washing
ton last evening. He accompanied the
/ san Francisco school board, and is the
/ representative Of 10000 or more Jap
anese residents OF that city. It was
! he who drafted the resolution adopted
/ by the japanese mass meeting last Oc-
tober, which upon being sent to Japan
caused the first japanese government
protest TO be made TO the United States.
/ He is also the attorney who filed
/ the Injunction case against the board
Of education in the United States Cir
cult Court Of San Francisco. Several
Of the large publications of the Pacific
/ Coast and Japan viii use his reports of
the coming conference. He carries
/ with him resolutions of the Commercial
/ Manufacturers Association of San
Francisco, which consists of $50 leading
manufacturers employing over 25.000
/ american laborers, and the output or
/ which represents over $4,000. 00U.
/ These resolutions are in favor of the
/ Japanese against the board Of eduea-
ton. They VIII be submitted TO the au-
thOritieS TO-DAY.