The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-01-28
PRESIDENT TRIES TO \
HALT ANTlJAP. LAWS
Mr. Roosevelt Writes to CaIifornia's
Chief Executive.

sacramento, Cal. Especially In
compliance with telegraphic re-
quest Of President Roosevelt, Cover
mir Gillett, of California. has con-
sented to hold up pending anti
Japanese measures until the Presi-
dents arguments against them are
received
In a telegram sent Saturday this
request was embodied, and letter Is
en- route to Sacramento which gives
tae Chief Executives views and wish
es In the matter of legislation against
the little brown men," President
Hoosevelt's telegram follows:
Washington, January 16.
Hon: James N. Gillett, Governor OF
california, Sacramento, CAL:
we are greatly concerned at
newspaper reports on anti-Japaness
Legislation In California's legislature.
Have written you at length on the
subject. Earnestly hope that no
progress will be made in the billy
until you have had chance to re-
ceive my letter and II necessary to
discuss its contents with leaders OF
two houses My knowledge of the
international situation, particularly
with reference TO emigration of Japa
nese laborers from the United States,
satisfies me that passage of proposed
legislation would be of inestimable
damage to State of California, as
well as to whole nation.
Theodore Roosevelt"
Governor Gillett sent the following
reply:
Sacramento, Cal, January 18.
Theodore Roosevelt, President OF
the United States. Washington,
d. c.:
Telegram received. Have caused
bills to be held up until / can hear
from you. Copies of bills introduced
affecting Japanese. together With
briefs of same, mailed to you.
James N Gillett."
The Presidents Letter.
President Roosevelt's letter to
Governor Gillett, dated January 16.
follows:
"My dear Governor:
81 am greatly concerned over the
anti-Japanese bills which are appar
emily going through or are on their
way through the California legisla-
ture. They are in every sense most
unfortunate. At last we have in first
class working order the arrange
ment which, with such difficulty, we
succeeded in getting through two
years ago. The Japanese government
are obviously acting in entire good
faith. During six months ending Octo.
Der g. last, the total number of Japa-
nees who have come to the main
land of the United States has been
2,074, and the total number who
have left has been 3.1S3. In other
words, the whole object nominally
desired by those who wish to prevent
the incoming of Chinese laborers has
been achieved.
More Japanese are leaving the
country than are coming in, and by
present indications, in a very few
years the number of Japanese here
will be no greater than the number
of Americans in Japan; that Is, the
movement will be as normal in one
case as in the other. which Is just
what we desire. There is, therefore,
no shadow of excuse for action which
will simply produce great irritation
and may result in upsetting the pres
ent agreement and throwing open
the whole situation again.
"These agitators have themselves
to thank II trouble comes from what
tney 40 II IHeTe Ia 1reSn lnHuN OF
Japanese hither. They hamper the
notioDal government in what 1t has
now so efficiently accomplished, the
agreement by peaceful means, and
through the friendly initiative of the
Japanese government. to keep Jap
anese immigrants out of the United
Stat-3 save as Americans themselves
visit Japan. Is ii not possible to get
the legislature to realize the great
unwisdom from the standpoint OF
the country at large, and above all
from the STANDPOINT of California of
what is being done?
Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt"