Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-02-10
ANT|-JAP TALK
CAUSES CONCERN
ROOSEVELT is GREATLY DIS
TuRBED BY CALIFORNIA AoI-
TATlON.
AGREEMENTS MADE BETWEEN
THE TWO NATIONS BEING
CARRIED OUT


question, nor indeed, any group of
questions is absorbing the interest
and concern of the administration at
this moment to the same extent as
certain phases of the anti-Japanese
agitation in California. The president
has been in communication with MANY
reputable persons who should be
thoroughly informed as to conditions
on the Pacific coast. 1t is admitted
that a systematic agitation was in
progress on the coast, but a signific-
ant feature of it's lack of strength was
the fact that the labor leaders had
taken no prominent part in it. In
deed, it has been stated to the admin
istration that the real handspring of
the agitation was to be found in some
of the great corporations that had
found their profitable business of
coolie transportation threatened with
destruction by the success attending
the efforts of the administration to
stop this class of immigration. The
fact is, that in the opinion of the adj
ministration, the negotiations with
Japan for practically complete clos
ure of American ports to the entry of
Japanese laborers are certainly jeop-
ardized by the extreme utterances of
certain persons in California, and by
the mere consideration of such resolu-
tions as were entertained by the Ne
vada legislature.
Even agreements already reached,
which are being carried out in perfect
good faith on the part of the Japanese
government, are endangered, in the
sense that the present agitation
might very naturally tend to abate
the interest in Japanese officials in
the execution of their obligations, in
view of the unfriendly attitude as
sumed by some elements ON the Pa
cific coast. 1t is these considerations
that have Influenced the president In
reaching the conclusion that every
thing possible should be done to pre-
vent the enactment of legislation by
any state that would discriminate
against the Japanese as a class apart
from other foreign elements entering
America
There is no objection whatever by
the administration to laws prohibit
ing all aliens from holding land in
America. For this is now, under the
revised statutes, the law of the Dis
trict of Columbia, the territories
and some states. Indeed, there is
similar law in Japan and the gov
eminent of that country consequently
could not regard it as anti-Japanese
legislation if adopted in California.
The president has entire confidence In
the people of the Pacific coast and is
certain they will do right in this mat
ter.
The administration is much pleased
with the tone of the speech OF Premier
Komura, in the Japanese diet yester-
day, as far as it touched upon the re-
lations between America and Japan.
Bills Are Doomed.
Sacramento Cal, Feb 3.-The anti
Japanese bills are doomed, according
to a statement made last night by
Speaker Stanton.
Judging from the temper OF the
assembly, not one of the four anti
Japanese bills that will come up for
final passage today will go through,
said Mr.. Stanton. He declared that
majority of the lower house heartily
II \
agrees with President Roosevelt and
Secretary Root that such measures
are unwise. according to the figures
I have just seen," continued Mr.. Stan
ton, "Drews' bill prohibiting all aliens
from owning lands would, it enacted
drive out of California a cool billion
Of capital. What we want is to bring
more capital in, not send it away at
this tremendous rate.
millions of foreign money are IN
vested in our mines and oil property
and have served to advance the devei-
opment of the resources of the state
to an incalculable degree. | feel con-
fident that the Drew bill will be badly
beaten and there is no question IN my
mind that when that is killed all
others aiming at the Japanese Will
meet a similar fate