Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-12
ROOSEVELT STOPS
ALL ANII-JAP LAWS;
/. SCHOOLS STAYOPEN.
Yielding to Pressure of Presi-
dent and Governor Gillett,
California Legislature Rever.
ses Its Former Action.
JAP BOYS AND GIRLS
WILL ATTEND SCHOOLS
FOR WHITE STUDENTS
Bill, Which Roosevelt Called 'sMost
Offensive of An'' is Reconsidered
and Finally Killed, Which Results
In Victory for President. ii
Bx Associated Presa.l

SACRAMENTO, Cal, Feb. 1.-THE big
stick" of President Roosevelt, aided by
the influence of Governor Gillett, has re-
suited in the death Of all anti-Jap biila
in the California legislature.
The assembly reversed its previous poa
sition by reconsidering the former vota
on the segregation OF japanese students
In the public schools, finally rejecting
the measure by a vote of Al to 81.
An effort by the supporters of the bill
further to consider was lost by 6 vote
of So to 49, and the assembly is now clear
of any Japanese measure objected 70 bT
the national administration.
The fight for the suppression Of the
bill was won only after many hours OF
heated debate on the door. The struggle
started at 1890 o'clock Wednesday morn
ing, on the presentation of a resolution
by Assemblyman ]. p. Transue, OF Los
Angeles, affirming the right of the state
to govern it's schools, but Withdrawing
the japanese segregation measure be-
cause of the presidents objection to IL,
and lasted until o'clock in the after-
noon, when Grove L. Johnson's motion
further to reconsider his defeated school
segregation bill was defeated.
Bill Was Sensation
The anti-Japanese measure, defeated
yesterday In the California Legislature
has been the sensation OF two legislatures
It was first introduced at the session two
years ago by Grove L. Johnson, OF Sac
ramento, ex-congressman from this dis
trfct and a member OF the stata law
making body for many years. 1t was
framed at the request Of the San Fran
cisco board of education after the latter
had passed a resolution barring Japanese
children from the schools attended by
white scholars, and assigning them to
the institutions attended by Chinese.
The law specified that Mongolians and
Indians should be segregated and the
boards action was based on the conten-
ton that the Japanese belonged to the
Monaghan race. This the Japanese de-
MED as strenuously
The Japanese government protested to
President Roosevelt and the members OF
the school board, he added by the then
mayor, Eugene e. Schmitz were sum
moned to a conference at Washington by
President Roosevelt.
Roosevelt Sends Wire
The president sent an urgent message
to the governor and the legislature OF
this state asking that the bill be with
drawn, at least for the period of two
years, assuring them that in the mean
a ITGhLy WOuiQ DC uGEOLAdISu Win
Japan to do all in its power to restrict
japanese immigration and alleviate the
conditions protested by the Japanese and
Koreans Exclusion league of California,
as well as numerous labor leaders.
Assemblymsn Johnson, when he pre-
scented II again on the first day for the
presentation Of bills at this session, stat
ed that he had done so without prompts
ing by the Asiatic Exchange league or
any other organization.
As soon as the Japanese heard the news
Of the revival of the bill. Japan made
representations to Washington II would
passed violate the treaty rights OF that
nation, and after a consultation with Sec
rotary of State Root the president wired
Governor Gillett, urging that action be
delayed again. But It was not. over the
school bill federal authorities seemed TO
be concerned. They did not believe ak
that time that IT would be passed.
Land Bill Killed
The president specifically mentioned al
obnoxious a measure introduced by A. NJ.
Drew, Of Fresno, preventing the owner
ships Of lands by aliens. AS Japanese ara
not permitted to become citizens, they
considered the bill as a blow aimed es~
pecially at them.
Governor Gillett sent a message TO the
legislature asking that the land bill be
killed and this was done. But later, when
the school bill which had been quietly
reported on favorably by the COMMITTEES
to which it was referred, was called up
for final passage, 1t was adopted by q
vote of 4S to Is.
The president was astounded by the
news and at once wired Governor Gil
lett that this was 1.-The most offensive
bill of ALL" L. Walter Leeds. OF Los
Angeles, had given notice that he would
move to reconsider the vote, and when
the measure passed the governor sent an
other message urging the assembly to re-
consider and kill it.
This precipitated battle that culminat-
ed in a victory for the president
,v-r,r- INV xEAUTNH DOUERG