The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-25
Japanese in San Francisco
nY FREDERIC J. nAsKIN.

!
by FREDERIC J.HAskIN.
| San francisco.
Here at the Golden Gate the dues-
| tion OF Japanese immigration Is more
acute than at any other place in the
Union. To this port n large majority
lof the Japanese Is the United States
| have come. Here the American Asiatic
Exclusion League is conducting the
movement for a law which viii as eff
reahs from coming to America as the
Chinese exclusion act keeps out the
Celestials. Here are published the
japanese daily newspapers which re-
INipponese In America. Here is the
most prosperous city colony of Japa-
lnese on the continent, and from San
Francisco the large rural Japanese
and recruited. Despite the prohibi-
Ition of Japanese immigration from
Hawaii. and despite the Tokyo prom
Uses Of restriction, the Japanese popu-
laton of San Francisco is steadily in.
States and Japan. the agitation of the
exclusion question. and all kindred Is
sues grew directly out Of the clash
Between the Japanese and white peo-
Ithorities directed that the Japanese
pupils In the public schools should
la tend the separate school maintained
for people OF Monaghan descent The
the ruling. and appealed to their gov
eminent. at Tokyo. The diplomatic
correspondence between the two coun-
tries soon became threatening, II not
while anti-Japanese demonstrations.
riots and boycotts excited the stricken
|cityN Of San Francisco.
Just what Japan said to the gov
Iernment at Washington is still pro-
found secret. But events have justi-
fled the rumor current at the time
that the situation was strained almost
TO the point OF rupture OF diplomatic
relations. The President sent Secretary
Metcalf to California with Instructions
to threaten and appeal. He did both.
When the Metcalf report was transmit
ted to Congress the President sent with
1t a brief message, which he concluded
with this sentence: II authorized and
there was failure to protect persona
land property, then the entire power
OF the Federal government, within the
limits of the Constitution, would be
force the observance Of our treaty. the
supreme law OF the land. which treaty
guarantees to Japanese residents
Everywhere in the Union full and per-
feet protection for their persons and
property; and to this end everything
lin my power would be done. and all
the forces OF the United States. both
Icivil' and military, which l could law
fully employ, would be employed"
This threat of the Federal govern
ment to use the civil and military
forces OF the nation against the SOW
ereign State OF California caused
great hue and cry. But even many of
those who criticized the President se-
verely at that time for his action now
praise him for having SO conducted the
affair as to avoid war at time when
the United States was hopelessly un-
prepared for the issue. The coming
|delegation, headed by the notorious
Mayor Schmitz. the fury OF eloquence
in Congress. and the wild talk OF the
limoges In Japan are all part OF the
history OF the time.
California and San Francisco yield
ed to the entreaties of the government
lat Washington, and did not insist on
the exclusion OF all Japanese pupils
from the schools. publicIopinion being
placated by the exclusion OF the men
OF mature age, who had been in classes
with little girls. These grown pupils
were the cause of the trouble. and
when the cause was removed The sit.
|uation was relieved. and the anti-Jap-
|anese movement dropped In intensity
from acute to subacute.
Then, as luck would have 1t, the
loyal subjects of King Edward VII.
residing in British Columbia took up
lSLIChS anu pISSCCuSA thSA U
with to belabor certain loyal subjects
LOT King Edwards imperial ally. the
Mikado. This proved very embarrass-
ing to Japan. and Tokyo began to be
much 1nilder in the tone OF its utter
lances.
This review OF the beginning Of
the agitation Of the Japanese question
lis of monlentous significance when
considered in connection with subse-
uuent events Since that time the
United STATES has transferred the great
Ter portion OF its naval force from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. That
There is any relation between these
things may be denied by official Wash
Iington, but then did not official Wash
lington deny that the fleet would go
to the Pacific at all? This same Of
ficial Washington denies that the fleet
will stay In the Pacific, but Since
the time that the President sent a
message to Congress jumping on the
|Californians for their attitude toward
the Japanese there has been strong
movement for a Japanese exclusion
law This AGITATION has boon Kept