Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-22
TALKED OVER BY CABINET
President Satisfied With Outlook in
California Affair.
SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR FUTURE
Senator Flint Expresses Opinion
That Trouble Is Over for the Pres
ent-Californians Call.

There was less Japanese talk around
in the last few days.
The most warlike man around the build.
ing was Secretary Straus. He is not sat-
isiied with the suspicious of the California
people that the figures of his immigration
department as to japanese decreasing in
this country in the last six months are
incorrect.
II stand by my figures" he asserts.
They are absolutely right and 1 can
prove that they are by any commission
the California people will send here
Away with the figures said Cali
fornians. I'VE know what the facts
are. We don't see any decrease and we
don't believe there is any
Secretary Straus again repeated to the
president at the cabinet meeting today
MS confidence in the accuracy of the i'm
migration figures. He says that it is i'm
possible for many Japanese to get across
the Canadian or Mexican borders. and he
is further satisfied that the immigration
officers at the ports are not hoodwinked
sufficiently to let any of them in.
The President seemed satisfied today
that the outlook is better all around The
cabinet gave little consideration to the
subject, at least not whole. Mem
bers of the cabinet began departing from
the executive offices earlier in the day than
in the past few weeks. If there was any
serious talk ii was with Secretary Root.
who left about 12::D O'Clock, going to
the District grand jury room to testify
In the Panama libel suit.
All reports reaching the President are
to the effect that Gov Gillett has squat
ted heavily on the leaders in the legisla-
ture seeking TO put through hostile legis-
lation With the legislature putting aside
all enactments bearing the question
and postponing further consideration for
two years, it is now hoped that agitation
OF all kinds will likewise be suspended.
Californians Talk to President.
California citizens who saw the Presi-
dent today were ex-Mayor James D. Phe-
Ian. DR.. 4. H. Giannini. chairman Of the
board Of supervisors of San Francisco;
Marsden Manson, another city official.
and j. ID. Galloway. civil engineer. Their
call was personal. but quite naturally the
japanese situation was discussed. the
President earnestly presenting his views.
The President told u.s., said Mr.. Pho
Ian, that everything is being done by the
United States and japan to restrict the
immigration of Japanese, and that he be-
lieved the decrease Of this immigration
would finally solve the problem If legisla-
tion should he left alone for awhile. Tho
President said that he fully understood
the nature of the opposition to the Japa-
ship of lands in that state by certain
aliens. but he refused to consider the
Japanese in class by themselves and in
sisted that any legislation in this resrect
should be directed against all aliens
alike.
He reiterated his opinion that the time
Is 1noppoTtune and premature to pass
state laws. especially until fair trial
has been given to the question of whether
the Japanese are coming here in larger
numbers than they are going away He
desired to see the Japanese here treated
with the consideration their standing un-
der agreement warranted"
What is your view Of the matter, Mr..
Phelan?"
Il have no authority to speak for any
one except myself, but the fact is that the
California people cannot see that there
has been any decrease in the number of
J panese and | am afraid the situation
will continue to be an aggravating one.
The Japanese are crowdine out the white
man on the Pacific coast pressing him
to the wall by system of low living
that the white man can not get down to.
and deteriorating civilization as a whole.
We are inviting immigration of good
class of white people. We can't expect
, to have it under the circumstances, the
facts of which are not appreciated in the
east or where the Japanese are not pres
ent in large numbers. 1t is simply inn
possible for the two races to continue tn
live together and the question will have
to DE settled sooner or later"
Grave Question for the Future.
rs the situation in California as ser
ious as would appear from the published
dispatches and the activity of the admin
istration in endeavorinS to suppress the
anti-Japanese legislation" Senator Flint
of California was asked today.
Yes. and no. replied Senator Flint.
rehechvely. Il don't think there is any
danger of break with Japan at the pres
ent time. Neither do / think that any
hostile legislation will be passed now by
our legislature, but the question Is one
that will have to be dealt with in the flu
ture. There is no doubt that Japanese
are still coming to this country in large
numbers. | know that many people are
giving out figures to prove the contrary.
but the JapS are there, and their number
is growing"
Senator Knox. who is to be Secretary
of State in NJ. Taft's cabinet, is con-
cerning himself with the japanese situa-
ton with view to becoming thoroughly
consulted with Senators Perkins and
Flint, and has also considered the ques-
ton in conference with members of the
committee on foreign relations. He re-
CARDS the question as one of great mo-
ment. requiring infinite delicacy and tact
in approaching a settlement. He con-
siderS the question one that cannot be
disposed of at this time. and one that is
Liable TO come to the surface again
and again as japanese labor comes into
conflict with American labor on the Pa
cic coast
BUSINESS MEN PROTEST.