The Washington herald., 1908-05-25
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

SPECIAL Correspondence The Washington Herald
San Francisco, May 12.--Here at the
Golden Gate the question Of japanese
immigration Is more acute than al any
other place in the Union. To this port
large majority Of the Japanese In the
United States have come. Here the
American Asiatic Exclusion League is
conducting the movement for law which
will as effectuaIly debar the japanese and
Koreans from coming 20 America as the
Chinese exclusion act keeps out the Ce-
lestials Here are published the Japanese
daily newspapers, which reflect and
mold the opinion Of the Nipponese in
America. Here Is the most prosperous
city colony OF japanese on the continent,
and from San Francisco the large rural
Japanese population of California is
financed and recruited. Despite the pro-
hibition Of japanese Immigration from
Hawaii, and despite the Tokyo promises
OF restriction. tho japanese population
OF San Francisco is steadily increasing.
All talk Of war between the United
States and Japan, the agitation OF the
exclusion question, and all kindred issues,
grew directly out Of the clash between
the japanese and white people In San
Francisco. The city authorities directed
that the japanese pupils IN the public
schools should attend the separate school
maintained for people OF Monaghan de-
scent, The Japanese pupils refused to
accede to the ruling and appealed to
their government at Tokyo. The diplo-
matio correspondence between the two
countries soon became threatening. IL not
mos n1a lie aH
while ant-Japanese demonstrations. riots,
and boycotts excited the stricken city of
San Francisco.
Just what Japan said 20 the government
at Washington Is still profound secret.
But events have justified the rumor cur
rent at the time that the situation was
strained almost TO the point Of a rupture
OF diplomatic relations. The President
sent Secretary Metcalf to California with
instructions 10 threaten and appeal. lie
did both. When the Metcalf report was
transmitted to Congress the President
sent with It n brief message, which ne
concluded with this sentence: 'T author
lied and directed Secretary Metcalf to
state IL there was failure to protect per-
sons and property; then the entire power
OF the Federal government. within the
limits or the Constitution would be used
promptly and vigorously to enforce the
observance Of our treaty, the supreme
law Of the land. which treaty guaranteed
to japanese residents. everywhere in the
Union, fun and perfect protection for
their persons and property; and 20 this
end everything In my power would be
done. and all the forces OF the United
States, both civil and military, which Il
could lawfully employ. would be en-
plOyed."
This threat OF the Federal government
to use the civil and military forces OF the
nation against the sovereign State of
California caused a great hue and cry.
But even many CT those who criticised
tie President severely at that time for
MS actions now praise him for having so
conducted the affair as to avoid war al
time when the United States was hope
lessly unprepared for the issue The com
ing 10 Washington OF the San Francisco
delegation headed by the notorious Mayor |
Schmitz, the fury Of eloqrence I'm Con- |
gress, and the Wild talk OF the fingoes
in Japan is all part OF the history OF
the time
California and San Francisco yielded to
the entreatles OF the government at
exclusion Of all japanese pupils from the
schools. public opinion 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 re-
moved the situation was relieved and the
anu-Japanese movement dropped in in
tensity from acute to subacute.
Then. as luck would have II. the loval
CrrhfoNfG ~ Il frrr n~rr
in British Columbia took UP sticks and
stones and proceeded Herewith TO be-
labor certain loyal subjects OF King Ed
wards imperial ally. the Mikado This
proved very embarrassing TO Japan, and
Tokyo began TO be much milder in the
tone Of its utterances.
This review OF the beginning Of the
agitation OF the japanese question is OF
momentOus significance when considered
in connection with subsequent events.
Since that time the United States has
transferred the greater portion of its
naval force from the Atlantic TO the pa
cific Ocean. That there is any relation
between these things may be denied by
official Washington, but, then, did not
official Washington deny that the fleet
would 80 to the Pacific at air This same
official Washington denies that the fleet
VIII stay in the Pacific, but Since
the time that the President sent a mes
sage 10 Congress jumping on the Cali
fornians for their attitude toward Japa-
nese there has been a strong movement
for a japanese exclusion law. This agi-
tation has been kept submerged by official
pressure because Of the effort being made
TO bring about a peaceful settlement OF
the question which would save the face
OF the Japanese under the most favored
nation agreement.
The same Japan which was so threat
ening when the school question first arose
has since consented to restrict immigra-
ton 10 America II no exclusion bill be
passed. The agreement was accepted. but
the japanese continue TO come In The
laxity Of the Japanese officials In en-
forcing the restriction agreement has
been the subject Of diplomatic corre-
spondence which originated from Wash
ington. When Washington writes a note
to Tokyo now Il is entirely different in
tone and spirit from the notes that were
written when the great feet was In At
lantio waters.
Now. nobody knows these things bet
ter than the Japanese in San Francisco.
Their voice is all for peace. The Jap.
anese We'd with the Native Sons IN pre-
pairing to welcome Admiral Evans and
his fleet to the frolic at the Golden Gate. |
They contributed over 5000 to the en-
tertainment fund. and spent good Amer |
icaD gold for red, white, and blue hunt. |
ing to decorate their shops and homes. |
The Japanese newspapers In San Fran |
cisco declared that they were as glad TO |
see the feet and as proud Of its accom- |
pllshments as were any other residents