New-York tribune., 1909-02-09
PROTESTS AGAINST ANTI
JAPANESE BILLS.
Says They Ndy Do Infinite Harm
Government Trying to Do What
Pacific Coast Wants.

i
THE policy of the administration is to COM
bine the maximum of efficiency in achieving the
real object which the people OF the Paclnc
Slope have at heart with the minimum OF frlc-
ton and trouble while the misguided men who
advocate such action as this against whicn L
protest are following policy which combines
the very minimum Of efficiency with the maxi
mum of insult and which, while totally falling
TO achieve any real results for good, yet might
accomplish an inf1nity of harm
The President also said that the bill gave just
and grave cause for irritation and that the gov
eminent would be obliged Immediately to take
action in the federal courts to test such legsla-
ton, because it is held TO be clearly violation
OF the treaty obligations Of the United States
The telegram was sent after conference with
Secretary Bacon. Assistant Secretary O'Lough-
lin. Senator Flint and Representative Kahn. OF
California, and F. K Lane. OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission
Il trust" says the President IN the dispatch
there will be Misunderstanding Of the fed
eral governments attitude We are jealousy
endeavoring to guard the interest OF California
and Of the entire West in accordance with the
desires OF our Western people BY friendly
agreement with Japan We are carrying out
a policy which while meeting the interests and
desires Of the Pacific slope, IS yet compatible
not merely with mutual self-respect but with
mutual esteem and admiration between the
Americans and Japanese.
FAITH KEPT By JAPAN.
''The japanese government Is Loyalty and II
good faith doing its part to carry out this
policy, precisely as the American government
is doing This policy aims at uut1ality OF OBJ
| legation and behavior. In accordance with il.
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 international business men Who So
| journ for pleasure OF study and the Ike 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
TN the last six months under this policy more
japanese have left the country than have come
| in and the total number in the United States
has diminished by two thousand These
| figures are absolutely accurate and cannot be
| impeached In other words II the present policy
| is consistently followed and works as well in the
| future II is working all difficulties and
causes Of friction will disappear while at the
same time each nation viii retain its self-re-
spect and the good viii Of the other But such
a bill this school bill accOmpIishes 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 Immediately to take action in
| FEDERAL
hold it to be clearly violation Of the treaty
On this point I refer you to the numerous de-
clsions Of the United States Supreme Court in
regard to state laws which violate treaty obIi-
cations OF the United States.
The legislation would accomplish nothing
beneficial and would certainly cause some mis-
| chief and might cause very grave mischief.
IF In the next year two the action OF the
federal government falls to achieve what It is
/
OF the President and Congress it can be made
entirely efficient. I sure the sound judg-
ment OF the people OF California will support
you. Mr.. Speaker. in your effort Let me repeat
that at present actually doing the very
thing which the people OF California wish TO be
done, and to upset the arrangement under
which this is being done cannot do good and
may do great harm II IN the next year or two
the figures of immigration prove that the ar
rangement which has worked successfully
during the last six months IS longer working
successfully, then there would be ground for
grievance and for the reversal by the national
government OF its present policy. But at pres
ent the policy is working well. and until It
works badly IL would be grave misfortuns 20
change It and when changed IT can only be
changed effectively by the national govern
ment.'
MR. LANE SUPPORTS THE PRESIDENT.
After the conference Mr.. Lane said: "'I have
read the Presidents statement on the Japanese
question. and I think he is following that line
of policy which viii work out for the best in
terest of the Pacific Coast This is not a par
tisan question. but involving great na-
tional policy, and I believe that only the na-
tionaI government can deal adequately with II
To my personal knowledge the President has
been endeavoring for the last two years to meet
tho demand OF our people In the most effective
manner. believe that his policy has been s
success thus far. 1t demands longer test and
state cooperation is necessary to achieve the
result we all desire. I am in favor Of the ex-
cIusion of Japanese IabOrers so as 10 avoid an
other race question in this country. which is
inevitable il they come in. I think the Presi-
dents method of reaching this result is practi-
cal and will prove more effective than more ag-
gressive and radical measures at this time As
a abor leader in San Francisco recently said:
We are in favor Of exclusion and not OF re-
prisaI' 1 am for standing by the President. be-
cause his policy has been one Of national i'm
portance and International good feeling"
Mr. Kahn declined TO discuss his interview
with the President. but after returning to the
Capitol he suggested to his colleagues in Con
gress that time should be given to Japan 10 test
her ability TO keep coohe labor out OF the United
States He urged that il there should be any
failure on the part OF Japan there would be
time enough 10 act at the special session OF
/ Congress
The California delegation in the House. with
! the exception of Mr.. McLachlan. met at luncheon
! and discussed the japanese situation 1t is said
that Mr.. Kahn was the only member in at
/ tendance who manifested an inclination to sup
/ port ths administration in It's attitude on the
] Japanese question. It was apparent that while
| the delegation was disposed to be conservative