Evening journal., 1909-02-05
HIT JAPS in
SCHOOL BILL
California Assembly Passes
the Measure by a Large
Majority
PRESIDENT DECLARES
THE MEASURE OFFENSIVE

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
SACRAMENTO, Cal, Feb. 5-Conster-
nation describes the state of mind to-day
OF Governor Gillette, Speaker Stanton and
members Of the organization in the As
sembly as the result of the passage yester-
day Of the anti-Japanese school bill.
Three anti-Japanese bills were consid-
cred in the Assembly yesterday and two
were beaten. The only one which passed
was Grove Johnson's bill providing for the
segregation OF Japanese children and plac-
ing them in special Asiatic schools.
The bills beaten were all submitted by
johnson. One provided that Japanese must
live within restricted districts. and the
other prohibited aliens from being mem
bers Of corporations doing business in
this state.
The school bill was popular with the
members, because in all the large towns
the teachers have had 10 wrestle with the
problem Of placing Japanese of mature
years in seats alongside of girls and boys
OF tender years. The result has been bad,
and experience led to action Of the San
Francisco School Board two years ago
which called out a strong japanese pro-
test
The result is considered as not only a
blow at the Organization. but at President
Roosevelt himself. rapid exchange of
. kilograms between the President and Gov
ernor Gillette occurred early to-day, the
messages from the White House leaving
no doubt as TO the chagrin Of the presi-
dent over the action Of the California Leg
islators
Conferring leaders. early to-day decided
that Assemblyman Leeds shall make a
molten for a reconsideration. When he
does, it is expected that he will produce
strong messages on the subject from
President Roosevelt. Every force at the
command Of the leaders will be called into
play 10 whip the recalcitrant members into
line II the attempt.is unavailing, an ef-
fort will be made 10 postpone the motion
for reconsideration for one week.
Anti i-Jap Members Bitter.
The bitterness harbored by some Of the
anti-Japancse members was evident to-
day when they declared thRt they would
rather resign from the Assembly than lose
the opportunity Of ousting the japanese
adults from the schools where their small
white children attend. They predict thai
should the bill ever be reconsldered. th'
vote. 4s TO % viii be increased by th'
side supporting the measure.
After news OF the passage OF the mea.
sures yesterday, had been sent over th'
country, Governor Ginettee received thl
following telegram, which he forwarded
to the Assembly.
Your kind letter just received. Wha'
is the rumor that the California Legisla
ture has passed the bill excluding th'
Japanese children from the public schools
This is the most offnesive bill Of all an,
in my judgment Is clearly unconstituton
al. We should at once have a test Of 1
IN the courts Cannot the legislation b.
stopped in the Legislature or by vetog'
Governor Gillstte wired a reply to tn
President Immediately. He refused to-da.
10 discuss the nature of his message 4
the President but will make all CORES
pondence public on receipt OF an answe
from the White House.
Governor Gillette later in the day pre-
pared a message which he will send to tn
Assembly. asking that that body recon
slider its vote That is his response t
President Roosevelts message which h
received last night
The Governor viii make a strong appea
to the assembly to stand by the admins
tration and will deal with the question o
treaties with Japan and other nations.
The fight now centers'on vote for re
consideration by the Assembly. Shoull
this fail. the measure goes to the Senate
Should it reach the Upper House. tn
probabilities are that it viii bei passed.
canvass of the Senate showing that It !
strongly in favor of the bill.