The San Francisco call., 1909-02-09
Sends Long Telegram to Speak,
er Stanton Picturing Dangers
of Unjust Laws
Japan Has Been Acting in
Good Faith, and So Must
We" lie Urges
Proposed Bills Offer Minimum
of Benefit With Maximum
of Insult

ing to guard the interest Of California
and Of the entire west in accordance
with the desires OF our western people.
By friendly agreement with Japan we
are now carrying out a policy which,
while meeting the interests and de-
sires Of the Pacific slope, is yet COM
patible not merely with mutual self
respect. but with mutual esteem and
admiration between the Americans and
japanese.
Japanese in Good Faith
The japanese government is Loyalty
and in good faith doing its part to
carry out this policy, precisely as the
American government is doing. The
policy aims at mutuality and obliga-
ton and behavior.
IN accordance with It the purpose
is that the Japanese shall come here
exactly as Americans go to Japan,
which is in effect that the travellers.
students, persons engaged in interna-
tional business, men who sojourn for
pleasure or study, and the like. shall
have the freest access from one coun-
try to the other and shall be sure Of
the best treatment. but that there shall
be no settlement in mass by the people
OF either country in the other.
More Going Than Coming
During the last six months under
this policy more japanese have left the
country than have come in, and the
total number in the United States has
diminished by more than 1000. These
figures are absolutely accurate and need
not be impeached In other words. if
the present policy is consistently fol-
lowed and works as well in the future
as it is now working, all difficulties
and causes for friction viii disappear.
while al the same time each nation will
retain its self-respect and the good will
OF the other.
But such bill as this school bill
accomplishes literally nothing whatever
in the line OF the object aimed at and
gives just and grave cause for irrita-
tion: while in addition the United states
government would be obliged imme-
diately TO take action in the federal
courts to test such legislation, as we
hold it to be clearly violation of the
treaty.
Decisions Are Numerous
-on this point refer you to the
numerous decisions of the United States
supreme court in regard TO state laws
which violate treaty obligations of the
United States. The legislature would
accomplish nothing beneficial and would
certainly cause some mischief, and
might cause very grave mischief. In
short, the policy of the administration
is 10 combine the maximum OF efficiency
in achieving the real object which the
people Of the Pacific slope have at
heart with the minimum Of friction
and trouble, while the misguided men
who advocate such action as this
against which I protest are following
a policy which combines the very mini
mum Of efficiency with the maximum Of
insult, and which. while totally falling
10 achieve any real result for good.
yet might accomplish an inhnity of
harm.
Working for the State
If in the next year or two the ac-
ton or the federal government fails to
achieve what it is now achieving, then
through the further action Of the presi-
dent and congress it can be made en-
tirely efficient. L am sure that the
sound judgment Of the people of Cali
fornia viii support you, Mr.. Speaker,
in your efforts. Let me repeat that at
present We are actually doing the very
thing which the people Of California
wish TO be done. and to upset tae ar
rangement under which this is being
done can do no good and may do harm.
II the next year or two the figures of
immigration prove that the arrange
ment which has worked so successfully
during the last six months is no longer
working so successfully, then there
would be ground for grievance and for
the reversal by the national government
of its policy. But at present the policy is
working well and until it works badly
it would be a grave misfortune ia |
change it. and when changed it can
only be changed effectively by the ma
tionaI government
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Conference at White House
WASHINGTON. Feb. s.-There was
an important conference on the Japan-
est situation at the White House TODAY
1t was participated in by Senator Flint
Representative Kahn and Interstate
Commerce Commissioner Lane of cali
fornia, Secretary Of State Bacon ana
Assistant Secretary O'Laughlin. The
conference was not long one and at 1
its conclusion the Californians declared /
that their mouths had been closed nv l
the president, who had asked them to /
say nothing as he intended to make a |
statement. The state department Of
heials also declared that they could not
talk.
The conference was followed by an
other conference between the president
and Secretaries Newberry and Wright. l
Rt the conclusion of which the direct. |
statement was made by /
both secretaries that the name Janan /