Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-09
CLERGY FIGHTS
JAPANESE BILLS
MINISTERS ADOPT RESOLU-
TONS AGAINST MEASURES
WesIeyans Call Down AssembIyman
Drew, Author of Proposed Anti
Nipponese Law, He Being
of That Faith

Ministers of the different denomina-
tions manifested much interest yester-
day, individually and collectively, re-
garding the anti-Japanese bill now be-
fore the state legislature.
AT the meeting of the Methodist min
isters at the First Methodist church,
Rev. Eli McClish presented resolutions
against the legislation, which were
adopted as follows:
Whereas, There are now before the
legislature of California certain bills
which, if enacted, seem calculated to
result in a serious misunderstanding
between Japan and the United States;
and
Whereas, The gravity of the situa-
ton is such that the president of the
United States and governor of Cali
fornia are showing great solicitude lest
the hasty action of our legislature, un-
der influence of local conditions and
race prejudice, may involve the honor
and jeorpardize the peace of the nation;
be it
Resolved, That the Methodist min
listers deprecate any discussion or legis-
lation that would not appear to COM
mand the respect of the nation at
large:
And, believing that the issue now
and not to state legislation, we sin
cerely hope that the entire matter may
be voted down.
The Baptist ministers at their month
ly meeting at Berean hall yesterday
adopted the following resolutions:
Resolved, That we, the Baptist min
listers of Southern California, repre-
senting $4,000 Baptists, and a conStit-
uency of at least $4,000 people, desire
tO pxnroSc ourselves most
seriously the action of our recent state
legislature in passing bills looking to-
ward the exclusion of the Japanese
from our public schools, together with
other enactments which can only be
interpreted as a desire to unjustly dis
criminate against this most worthy
class of people sojOurning among us.
I'VE desire to express ourselves as
most earnestly desiring the welfare of
all so-called foreigners, whether their
residence among us be for long time
or only temporarily: that we desire to
extend to them every courtesy which
we should wish to have them extend
to us, were the situation reversed, and
that we will use our best endeavor to
discourage any action, legislative or
otherwise, which we believe does vio-
lence to the fundamental principles of
our Christian civilization.
I'VE furthermore desire most heart
lily to indorse the action of President
Roosevelt in reference to the japanese
question, to commend the noble stand
of Governor Gillett and Speaker Stan
ton, and the Legislators who have stood
for what We believe to be the right at
this time.
And we would earnestly urge all ouI
representatives at Sacramento to i'm
mediately take such action as will set
us right before Japan and the world or
| this great question:
The foregoing resolutions will be sent
to the state legislature.
! At the Methodist ministers meeting
the fact was brought out that AS
semblyman Drew of Fresno, author OF
one of the anti-Japanese bills, is g
Methodist. On motion of Rev. ]. G.
/ Elliott it was decided to call to Mr.
Drew's attention that his bill is not il
accord with the beliefs of his church
and that as a prominent churchmar
and one who had been delegate to the
! general conference it is hoped he vii
take cognizance of the resolution
passed by the association yesterday.