Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-06
TAKE SECOND THOUGHT
Legislators Realize Serious
ness of Japanese Agitation.
MAY HAVE GONE TOO FAR
Ability to Recede Is Doubted by
Californians.
SPEAKER sTANT0N's WARNING
Makes Strong Personal Appeal to
Postpone Action, Promising to
Make Important Revelations.
SPEAKER sTANToN's WARNING

SACRA MENIO, Cal. February 6.-Cal
tfornans at last realize that the anti
Japanese agitation has gathered on such
headway that the saner minds in ano
out of the legislature are going to have
the hardest kind of time to check II.
Gov. Gillett. who more than any other
state officer has kept In complete touch
with the situation. is frankly alarmed.
He, too. fears that the movement is gain
Ing rather than losing.
The quasi-support which the lower house
Of the Nevada legislature gave the move
ment combined with the proposed radical
action of the Oregon legislature. has
given an ominous tone to the threatenings
of the representatives at the capitol and
apparently there is no easy way to restore
the troubled atmosphere to its original
calm.
The assembly has got its spunk up
The only result of the governors urgent
special message yesterday and the per
sonal plea Of Speaker Stanton from the
floor Of the house was to secure a mean
ingless postponement until next Wednes-
day of action on the Johnson bill, which
authorizes municipalities to Segregate
Japanese school children. Wednesday it
will be reconsidered. but present indica-
tions promise little change in the attitude
of the lower house.
Japan Seriously Irritated.
Meanwhile the wires to and from Wash
ington are working overtime. 1t Is felt
that. while the mikado's government has
already been seriously rritated, the
passage of the measure. characterized by
Mr. Roosevelt as the most obnoxious of
any anti-alen proposals submitted during
the present session, would embarrass the
federal authorities to a point beyond con-
lecture.
Johnson's bill does not operate against
all aliens. but specifies Chinese, Indians
and Japanese, a discrimination which the
Japanese consider not only unjust but in
sulting. 1t reopens the question which
developed when 1t was proposed to segre-
gate the Japanese school children in San
Francisco, and extends it to every city
and county in California.
In opposing the request for reconsidera-
ton, which originated with the Los An
geles delegation. Johnson declared that he
had consulted the state attorney general
as to the legality and constitutionality Of
his BILL and that officer had pronounced
it fawless.
Nevertheless, he consented to the propo-
sition for reconsideration after hot
debate. during which he was apparently
satisfied with the showing of strength
made by his supporters.
Speakers Trump Card.
When Speaker Stanton took the floor
he indicated that he had an important
revelation to make which would probably
materialize before Wednesday and might
turn the tide to legislation more in accord
with the wishes of the national govern
ment. Speculation here is keen as to
StantonS meaning. 1t Is believed that he
refers to certain correspondence between
President Roosevelt and Gov Gillett.
which has not yet been made public.
Speaker Stanton said:
Regardless of the merits of this bill, |
believe 1t should at least be given recon
slider alton. We are treading upon very
dangerous ground, and | have inforna-
ton, although my lips are sealed that
leads me to make this appeal for post
ponement Let it go over until Wednes-
day, at which time it is probable the gov
ernor Will be In a position 10 explain
more fully the reasons for the federal
government request for delay
Introduced in Senate.
Senator A.. Caminetti introduced the
Japanese school bill in the senate. In do
ing so. he said:
Since the question of admitting Japa-
nese children In our public schools is
again the subject of consideration, and it
is said that the state has no jurisdiction
thereof. owing to our treaty with Japan.
it becomes the duty of the legislature TO
consider 1t If for no other reason than Ia
assert the sovereignty of California and
the right to conduct and control our pub
lie schools system, rights which are not
and cannot, under our system of govern
ment be the subject of treaty stipula-
ton with any foreign government.
This. it appears to me, we should do.
lest, by acquiescence and silence we
stimulate the movement now encroachlng
upon the rights of the states
The only element OF hope in the situ-
alton lies in the fact that the motion
for poStponement was carried without
dissent. Between now and Wednesday
active lobbying, both against and in be-
half of the japanese will occupy the pri-
Vate attention of the aSsemblymen. II the
measure should pass the senate by as
large a majority 1t did the assembly.
which does not seem likely, the COVER
nor'S veto would be useless.
GiIlett Will Not Tell.
SAN FRANCISCO, February Gov.
divulge the reasons which led Speaker
Stanton of the assembly yesterday to
make the dramatic appeal for delay
which resulted in postponing considera-
ton of the japanese school segregation
bill until next Wednesday.
1t is considered significant that Senator
Caminetti. who introduced the school bill
in the upper house. should have had the
measure referred to the committee
education. He is himself member OF
this committee and il is generally BE-
lieved, no matter what the fate of the
bill may be later, that it Will at least re-
ceive a favorable report.