Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-09

be grave misfortune to change it,
and when changed it can only be
changed effectively by the national
government.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Conference at White House
AS a result of another conference. on
the Japanese situation at the White
House today President Roosevelt will
give to the public second statement
Tor publication tomorrow morning.
The conference today was participat-
ed in by Senator Flint, Representative
Kahn and Interstate Commerce Com
missioner Lane of California Secretary
of State Bacon and Assistant Secretary
OLaughlin.
The conference was not a long one.
and at its conclusion the Californians
declared that their mouths had been
| closed by the president, who had asked
them to say nothing, as he intended to
make a statement. The state depart
ment officials also declare they can
not talk.
| The conference was followed by an
otheF conference between the presl-
| dent and Secretaries Newberry and
| wright, at the conclusion of which the
| direct unequiVocal statement was mad.,
by both secretaries that the name
Japan or California had not been re-
terred to and that the discussion was
an unimportant one relating to a bill
IN congress dealing with deserters from
the army and navy.
Intimation Not Mentioned
The positive statement was made bv
member of the party that not one
word was mentioned as to an intima-
| ton from Japan as to how she might
treat certain legislation in California.
Nor would the president say a word
toward clearing up the remarks made
by the speaker of the California lower
house that he was in possession of in
formation showing that the situation
would become critical if the legislature
persisted in its course.
Inc TACT that the state department.
was represented in the conference has
excited more speculation thansany 9th
er feature and caused the belief that
certain representations have been made
oy Japan as to how she regards pos
sible legislation in California.
..Intimation was conveyed that i'm
portant messages have been received
from Ambassador O'Brien, our repre-
sentative at Toxic, portraying the feel
ing there.
In reply to inquiries along these lines,
Secretary Bacon declined to talk.
One of the matters before the con-
ference at the White House was let
~ NAAOA L 1SSluGIlI EGOOS6V6lC also mas
written to Speaker Stanton of the low
er house of the California legislature.
Letter Also Mailed
This letter, which was mailed after
the telegram was sent this afternoon,
will be made public here later. 1t sets
forth the attitude of the administra-
ton as to anti-Japanese legislation and
rc1terates the "unwisdom and mop
portuneness Of action Of any kind at
this time.''
Mr.. Kahn declined to discuss his in
terview with the president, but it is
understood he suggested to his col
leagues in congress that time should
be given to Japan to test her ability to
keep her 'coolie' labor out of the
United States.
He urged that if the result should be
failure on the part Of Japan there
would be time enough to act during
the approaching special session Of con-
gress.
During the day the entire California,
delegation in the house, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. McLachlan, met at
luncheon and discussed the Japanese
situation to greater or lesser extent,
and 1t is stated upon the authority of
those present that Mr.. Kahn was the
only member in attendance who mani
Tested an inclination to support the ad-
r-inistration in it's attitude toward
state action on the Japanese question.
Sympathies Apparent
1t was apparent that while the dele
cation was disposed to be conservative
its sympathies were largely with Cali
fornia's efforts to keep Japanese out
by means of state legislation if it was
not done by the action of the federal
government.
Members of the delegation declare
that large numbers of japanese are
coming into the United States by way
Of Mexico and Canada.
The house delegation generally sup
ports Senator Perkins in his attitude
on the question of Japanese exclusion.
The fact that in the prospective re-
organization of the senate committees,
Senator Perkins of California will sue
ceed Senator Hale of Maine, as chair
man of the committee on naval affairs,
has had the effect of adding to the in
terest in the presidents reference to
the California senator as one who has
''hampered the growth Of the navy