Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-25
The Pacific Slope and Japan.

lAot NotiIoII ShNSAo a PO"1NA
house with lighted matches when it be-
gins discussing legislation aimed
against the japanese President Roose-
welt openly declares that there Is moth
ing now before the country of more inl-
mediate and far-reaching Importance
than the matter of our Japanese rela-
tons. And there is no doubt that he
understands the inside features of the
problem, things of which the general
public has little or no knowledge.
The Presidents letter to Governor
Gillett of California seems to have been
received by that executive in the right
spirit and instead of regarding it as
medling from Washington he promptly
announces that there is no likelihood
that any legislation against the Japan
csc will be enacted at this session of
the California legislature. If this is
true, then the President has meddled, if
lneddling it may he called, to very good
purpose. 1t is a very delicate matter
for the President at Washington to III
terfere or attempt to interfere in mat
tiers of state legislation. On the other
hand, there are all sorts OF dangers III
vClved when an individual state gets 20
enacting legislation which effects the
relations of the country as whole with
some country beyond the seas.
Since the furry of excitement a year
or more ago, there has been a general
feeling that this country and Japan
We're entering upon an era Of friend
ship, and the cordial reception given
our battleship feet in Japanese waters
unquestionably went far to establish
good feeling in both this country and
Japan. All this improved feeling does
not, however, render less delicate the
japanese problem upon our Pacific
slope and if California proposes 10 ex-
clude JaLanese laborers or otherwise
discriminate against emigrants from
the Mikado's empire, there are sure to
be international complications which
cannot fail to be serious. Here is a
Washington view of the situation as
viewed by the special correspondent of
the Boston Transcript at the national
capital. The Transcript is always
conservative paper, not given to seeing
war clouds or sounding needless
alarms. Thus, the comments of this
Washington correspondent are worth a
careful reading. for we may be certain
that they do not eXaggerate the situa
ton or canjure up bugaboos which do
not exist:
Washington, Jan. 2O.-Judging by the
roars which have been coming from the
advocates of international peace, the
country does not appreciate the impor-
lance and delicacy of the situation
which is wrapped up in the efforts of
the Federal Government to keep in
operation workable scheme of Japan
csc exclusion. President Roosevelt is
moving heaven and earth to prevent
the enactment of anti-Japanese laws
by the California Legislature, and upon
the success Of his efforts may depend,
ultimately. the whole question whether
the relations of the two countries will
continue friendly. The President today
has no further advices as to whether
the California Legislature will consent
to the request of the President not to
pass the Drew bill, prohibiting aliens
hnl l.. Nd IN, Col; hut
is believed that when the full impor-
lance of the issue is understood, as it
can be elucdated in Washington, the
Legislature will see the propriety of
letting we'll enough alone.
The crlX of the situation Is that by
the agreement with Japan made two
years ago. actual results in the eXclt-
sion of Japanese laborers have been
achieved Within the past six months
especially the number of Japanese who
have emiGrated has grown larger than
the number that have come to the Uni
ted States. and it is the feeling among
the orfci2ls of the two governments
that this tendency will continue if the
situation is let alone. The danger is i'll
attempting to accomplish by legislation
what can be treated effectively only
by agreement. and in the view of the
Administration, every note of opposi-
ticn sounded by we'll meaning, but not
fully Informed peace lovers in criticism
of the plan marked out is loaded with
danger to the peace of the two coun-
tries
There can be no peace with Insults"
is the graphic suggestion put forward
with respect to the turn which the sit
uation bids fair to take if temperate
measures are not employed to hold tho
| situation where it is. The only effect
of legislation aimed directly at the Jap
ancse will be- on the one hand, to bring
the Federal Government into direct
conflict with the State of California in
Point of policy, and on the other t.
destroy the spirit in which the Japan
csc have entered into negotiations with
the United States Government and
arouse that proud and high-spirited ma
ton to arms. That this IS Il real and
not an imaginary danger cannot be