The Washington herald., 1909-01-20

President Roosevelt is greatly con
eerned over the proposed legislation in
California against the japanese. and he
has undertaken TO break up the pro-
gramme outlined for the state legislature
at Sacramento. He made public at the
White House yesterday a telegram and
a letter which ne had addressed to Gov
Gilett Of California, seeking 10 enlist
the governor in the plan 10 prevent So
called anti-Japanese legislation.
The President takes the position that
under the agreement recently entered
into between the American and japanese
governments. I.1G more japanese have
LETT this country than have come into it
in the last. six months. and that this
ought 70 satisfy the people Of California.
Discriminating legislation Mr.. Roosevelt
IS eupha tically opposed 10, and he has let
the governor OF California know il II
plain terms
Telegram to GOV. GIIIett.
IN reply TO his telegram to Gov. Gnlett.
the President received the following.
under date Of January IS
Telegram received. Have caused bills
10 be held Up until can hear from you.
Copies Of bills introduced affecting Jap
anese. together with briefs on same.
mailed. to you"
The telegram which the President sent
20 Gov. GiIlett vas as follows:
The White House, Washington, Jan. IS
1919.
Hon. James y. GHlett. Governor Of Cali
fornia, Sacramento. Cal:
We are greatly concerned at newspa-
per reports OF anti-Japanese legislation n
the California legislature. Have written
you al length on subject Earnestly hope
that no progress viii be made on bill un-
till you have chance TO receive my letter.
and. II necessary. 10 discuss its contents
with leaders Of two houses Ny knOwI-
edge Of the international situation par
tieularly with reference 10 emigration OF
japanese laboTers from United States.
satisfies ne that passage Of proposed leg
islation would be Of incalculsble damage
70 State Of California as well as to the
whole Union
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
President Mucn Worried.
The Presidents letter. which bears the
same date as the telegram, is as follows.
My dear Governor:
4 an greatly concerned over Tire anti
japanese bills which are apparently going
through. OF are on their way through. the
California legislature.
They are in every sense most un-
fortunate. Al last we have in frst-cIass
working order the arrangement which.
with much difficulty. We succeeded in get
ting through two years ago. The Japa-
nese government IS obviously acting In
entire good faith. During the six months
ending October q last. the total number
OF japanese who have come 70 the main
land OF the United States has been 2.g74.
and the total number who have left has
been 3,isi. IN other words. the whole
object nOminally desired By those who
wish 70 prevent the incoming Of japanese
laborers has been achieved.
More japanese are leaving the cOun-
try than are coming IN. and by present
indications in a very few years the num-
Der OF Japanese here viii be no greater
than the number Of Americans in Japzn.
that is. the movement viii be as normal
in one case as in the other which is
just what We Gesire. There is. therefore.
no shadow Of excuse OF action which will
simply produce great irritation and may
result in Upserting the present agreement
and throwing open the whole situation
again
AsitatOrs Doing Harm.
These sgitators have themselves TO
thank II trouble comes from what they
Go If there is a fresh influx OF Jana
nese hither. They hamper the national
government III what il has now so eff
cientIy accomplished-the agreement bv
peaceful means. and through the friendly
initiative Of the japanese government 70
keep japanese immigrants out Of the
United States, save as Americans them
selves visit Japan
rs It not possible 20 get the legislature
10 realize the great unwisdorn from the
standpoint OF the country az large. and.
above all, from the standpoint Of Cali
fCTnia. OF what is being dOne2
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The correspondence vas made public ~,
the President yesterday in the hope that
public sentiment in California NAV pre-
vent the passage OF legislation which he
regards as undesirable