The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-17
THE CALIFORNIA TROUBLE.
Roosevelt Says Japanese Legislation
Breaks the Obligations of the
Treaty.

the maximum of efficiency in achiev-
ing 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 1 protest are following
policy which combines the very
minimum of efficiency with the max
imum Of insult, and which, while to-
tally failing to accomplish any real
result for good, yet might accomplish
an infinity of HARM"
welt today in long telegram to
Speaker p. A. Stanton of the Califor-
MIA assembly set forth the govern
ment's view of the anti-Japanese
school legislation now before that
body.
The president stated that the bill
gives just and grave cause for irrita-
tion and the government would he
obliged Immediately to take action in
the federal courts to test such legisla-
tion, because it Is held to be clearly
a violation of the treaty obligations
of the United States. The telegram to
Speaker Stanton was sent only after
a conference with Senator Flint and
Representative Kohn of California
and F. X. Lane of the Interstate COM
merce commission.
To Speaker Stanton the president
sent the following:
II trust there will be no misunder-
standing Of the federal governments
attitude. We are jealousy endeavor-
ing to guard the interest of California
and of the entire West in accordance
with the desires of our Western peo-
pie. BY friendly agreement with ia
pan we are now carrying out a pol
icy which, while meeting the interests
and desires Of the Pacfic slope. is yet
compatible not merely with mutual
self-respect but with mutual esteem
and admiration between the Ameri-
cans and Japanese.
1.-The Japanese government is loyal
ly and in good faith doing its part to
carry out this policy, precisely as the
American government is doing. This
policy aims at mutually of obliga-
tion and behavior. In accordance with
1t the purpose Is that the Japanese
shall come here exactly as Americans
go to Japan, which is in effect that
travellers. students. persons engaged in
business, men who So
journ for pleasure or study and the
like, shall have the freest access from
one country 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.
During the last six months under
this policy more Japanese have left
the country than have come in it, and
the total number in the United States
has diminished by over 1000. These
figures are absolutely accurate and
cannot be impeached. In other words,
II the present policy is consistently
followed and works as we'll in the fu-
ture as it Is now working, all Difficult
ty and causes Of friction will disap-
pear while at the same time each ma
ton will retain its self-respect and
the good will Of the other. But such
a bill as this school bill accomplishes
literally nothing whatever in the line
of the object aimed at and gives
just and grave cause for irritation;
while in addition the United States
government would be obliged imme-
diatefy to take action in the federal
court to test such legislation, as we
hold it to be clearly violation of the
treaty.
"On this point 1 refer you to the
numerous decisions of the United
states supreme court in regard to
State laws which violate treaty obli-
cations Of the United States. The leg
islation would accomplish nothing
beneficial and would certainly cause
some mischief and might cause very
grave mischief.
IF in year or two the federal
government fails to accomplish what
1t is now achieving, then through the
further action of the president and
congress 1t can be made entirely
efficient. / am sure that the sound
Judgment of the people of Califor-
MIA Will support you, Mr.. Speaker, in
your effort.
Let me repeat that at prasapt x.,o