Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-05
ROOSEVELT Is WRONG
DIR. BUTLER DISCUSSES JAPANESE
QUESTION.

NEW YORK. April 5.-Nicholas Murray
Butler, president of Columbia University
in q statement issued yesterday, declares
he believes President Roosevelt's action In
the San Francisco school question was In
the wrong direction, and that San FRAN
cisco had pursued the wisest course In her
solution of the problem.
DIR. Butler has just returned from the
Pacific coast, and has had a personal obser-
walton of the whole question within the last
month Unless the nation as whole takes
on itself the task of dealing with the Japa-
nese educational problem, and that or orl-
entail immigration as well, DIR: Butter thinks
that San Francisco, although she held an
isolated position in regard to the matter IN
her own state was perfectly justified In
acting as she did.
Problem of the Japanese.
DR.. Butler said in regard to this:
1.-THE California sentiment has not been
thoroughly understood in the east. The
whole school question about which the re-
cont discussion arose turned in reality upon
the admission, or opposition to admission. of
adult Japanese side by side with little chill
dren In the public schools learning the Eng
fish language. AS to the unwisdom of this
there can hardly be two opinions
'.In southern California the sentiment ap-
Il
position as to Japanese immigration as a
whole and not in sympathy with 1t. More
over the people Of San Francisco are by no
means unanimous, and different opinions
are freely expressed. The more thoughtful
Californians believe the so-called problem
of oriental immigration can be more salts
factorily settled on national rather than on
local lines and thus conserve the best In
terests of the United States and the dignity
of the people of China and Japan them
selves The more violent expressions in re-
gard to this matter seem to me to be the
least representative"
Lesson for Politicians.
New York politicians would do well to
take lessons from their California brethren
is the impression that DR.. Butler obtained
after an examination of the San Francisco
graft scandal. Even before the city had
stopped burning. the San Francisco poll
ticians were delving into the relief money
which came pouring in. President Butler
believes the story of this graft has never
been known in the east. although It Is
common talk in the Pacific coast metropolis
Dr. Butler. commenting on this, said:
"The most extraordinary thing is to hear
it stated on the best authority that within
three days after the fire, when the whole
worlds sympathy and help were pouring out
toward San Francisco the mayor and su-
pervisors, the latter corresponding to our
aldermen, were carrying on perfect orgy
of corruption.
"Those who are in a position to know
say that these men left no stone unturned
to get into their own hands the enormous
funds sent for the relief of San Francisco
"Just at this time the whole interests of
San Francisco are concentrated on the
prosecution of the mayor, supervisors and
political boss, Ruef. All the best interests
of this community are giving their sup
port the leaders being Rudolph Spreckles
and James D. Phelan."
Confident Of Conviction.
The graft cases to which DR.. Butler re-
fars are being prosecuted by District At
torney William H. Langdon, who was
elected on the Independence League ticket
He is confident that he will send to the
penitentiary the public officials who have
been bribed and also those who have bribed
them. San Francisco Is not only under
going physical but moral cleaning"
President Butler wa i. greatly surprised
by the amount of work at has been done
in restoring the city after tle fire Of year
ago. The work Of rebuilding has pro-
crossed most rapidly In the business Sec
ton, ana II beginning In the residence dis
trfcts.
"Knowing San Francisco a. well as
did, having followed the IRE by the dis
patches and on the map, ! was not pre-
pared Tor the amount and completeness Of