New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-22
CONFER WITH PRESIDENT.
Californians to Help Him-San
Pedro Defence Plans.

Washington. Jan 21.-The japanese legls'a-
tion question in California was discusseo a.
oor,aronces TODAY bv President Roosevelt, sen
.+ors Flint and Fulton and others The Fresl-
dent urged the need OF California's congress
delegation using It's influence against iesisia''o"
that might be resented by Japan MS
diplomatic day at the State department. OH"
among Secretary Roots callers was the japan
csc Ambassador Baron Takahlra. he ueoi@
hts call was a personal one, made III we" VI
The secretarv's forthcoming retirement from
the Cabinet.
The President told some OF his visitors that
he thought nothing pending in Congress was OF
baIV the importance of the Japanese-Californla
question
The President showed that he recognized the
existence Of deeply founded antagonisfn 10 the
Japanese in California and the wisdom Oh al
effort en- TO mould that sentiment as to end the
agitation with as little delay as possloie =
causa Of the almost unanimous sentiment In the
state the President realizes the responsibility
upon Governor GiIlett in using his Influence t"
nrevent state legislation on the mater at this
session and wants TO do all he can 10 share
that responsibility.
Senator Flint agreed with the President to-
day that the burden upon Governor Gilett was
a serious one, and expressed Willingness TO snare
with the Governor the work OF trying to allay
the irritation The President is not hesltaIlns
to use the influence of Senator Flint, and will
not refrain from doing anything within reason
himself.
Senator Flint and other Caiifornians have told
the President that while they are willing TO -i1F
him, they do not place much conhdence In the
figures of the government as to the decrease in
the number of Japanese in this country The
facts dispute the figures" they declare, and add
TAX nOSseSSiOn whole
towns The President advised his California
visitors that he would like to see fair trial
given to the promises Of Japan TO decrease the
number OF Japanese in this country. II TINS trlaL
shows that there is no decrease he would no
longer use his influence TO prevent hostile legis-
lation.
Senator Fulton, of Oregon, after his talk at
the White House to- day, said that the feeling
as TO the Japanese in his state was not so acute
as in California japanese and Chinese children
attend the same schools white children In our
state" said the Senator, "and we have not had
any trouble so far. We have many Japanese in
the state but they seem to have colonized more
extensively in California than with US"
Like many other callers. Senator Fulton ex-
pressed the opinion that trouble would be avoid
ed This view was taken by number of White
House callers. among them Representatives
DENLY and Townsend
The fact that there recently sent to Con-
gress by the President a report. which became
public to- day, by the General Staff recommend
ing fortifications for San Pedro Harbor Cali!
fornia was made the basis for suggestions that
such decision had just been reached.
At the War Department this inference
most explicitly denied. There ii said that
the general subject of the Improvement of San
Pedro Harbor had been under consideration for
two taken
natural military problem. involving the necessary
protection of the Southern California coast from
foreign invasion and without reference to any
narticuIar country or enemy. The defence OF
San Pedro was considered Just that of other
harbors on the racine OF on the Atahtic coast
would be.
Formal legislative authorization for an investi-
cation and report as the advisability and
necessity for seacoast fOrtifcations for the pro-
tection of San Pedro Harbor given May -
last Conforrnably TO this action. the President
sent TO Congress the report of the General Staff
on the subject which was accompanied by esti
mates of the of the site and fortifca tions,
aggregating s3655.269 for big guns. submarine
mines land and accessories
The general staff's argument assumes that an
anan,v is coming from the Orient, and the state
mont is made that, so far as location is
cerned San Pedro would be a good base for an
enemy to operate against the Pacific Coast
Under the head Of Ease of Conquest the re-
,,ort ca, that recent study discloses the fact
that. assuming there were no effective naval op-
,.,s;tfor a certain Oriental power could within
,on+,, Of the time it's hostile intentions began TO
la even strongly suspected Ga formal declaration
- ,rar ,yould no doubt come a good deal laterl
Continued on second page.