The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-03-01
Japanese Exclusion Measure Got
Before Congress Without
Suspicion.
CAN NOT SUPPRESS IT NOW
Taft Is NoncommittaI and Others
Are Afraid of Labor Vote
in the Matter.
By Ernest G. walker.

By Ernest G. Walker.
(Mail Special to The Advertiser
WASHINGTON, February 15.-TA
anti-Japanese firebrand is to be thrown
into the house of representatives ON
some calendar Wednesday soon, unless
some way can be devised to sidetrack
it. A bill, which excludes Japanese,
Chinese, Hindus and all immigrants,
who are not eligible to become Ameri-
can citizens, has been favorably re-
ported from the committee on immigra-
ton and naturalization, is now on the
house calendar, and apparently nothing
except the recall of the report can pre-
vent the measure from being consid-
cred.
Is Hayes Joker.
Just how the bill could have reached
its present advanced stage without
arousing opposition is quite mystery
to the house leaders. President Roose-
welt gave his pledge that there would
be no legislation against the Japanese,
if they would carry out their prom SEES
to restrict immigration. The Japanese
have claimed all along to be complying
with their part of the agreement. Rep
resentative Hayes, of California, how.
ever, who has radical record against
the japanese, introduced February 8 a
bill to amend the immigration laws so
as to exclude certain classes of immi
grants. Well down in the long emu
meration of prohibited classes he add
ed, "persons who are ineligible to be-
come citizens of the United States, un.
less. they are merchants, teachers, stu
dents, or travellers for curiosity or
pleasure.
Congress in Fix.
As there is now a statute in force,
which prohibits the naturalization of
people of the yellow race, the enact
| ment of the Hayes bill, the Califor-
| mans in congress say, would amount to
Japanese exclusion. Members of the
house are at a loss how to meet it, be-
cause the bill under the new rule for
| Calendar Wednesday has the right of
way whenever it is reached in its turn.
| There has been some talk about rails
ing the question of consideration, but
even then the house might be forced
| to go on record regarding it. With
| the Pacific Coast and with labor unions
| quite generally favoring japanese ex-
clusion, many congressman would not
| like to east vote against the bill. Its
/ enactment by the house would undoubt-
edly be noted by the japanese govern
ment.
President Uncommitted.
| The prospects that it will give Presi-
dent Taft a new problem TO handle is
| interesting the house. Members say he
has not committed himself in any
| speeches on the exclusion of Asiatic
races. Once, while stopping in San
Francisco, he alluded to the troubles
of the previous administration with the
japanese question, saying that he did
not believe in "mule heel diplomacy"
| President Roosevelt had much diff.
| ficulty with the Japanese problem,
which threatened at one time to ex-
tinguish his popularity on the Pacific
Coast. His troubles over the admission
of japanese pupils to the public schools
in San Francisco were followed by at
tempts to pass anti-Japanese bills in
the California legislature. After much
| agitation, Mr.. Roosevelt persuaded Gov.
ernor Gillett and his legislature to kill
those measures. Even one of those
bills, to which Mr.. Roosevelt had no
objection, did not become lava bill
providing that no aliens should own
real estate in California.
Eastern Precedents.
The fact that this bill was not al.
lowed to pass will figure in the debate
on the Hayes bill--if ii comes to the
stage of discussion. New York. Illinois
and numerous other States have prohi
billions against the ownership of realty
by aliens. II is now being emphasized
that IL California does not prohibit the
ownership of real estate by aliens, II
would not be appropriate for congress
10 enact law that would exclude those
aliens from coming 10 California TO en-
joy the use Of their property.
None Of the Pacific Coast represen
taiives Ia the house apparently will
dare vote against the bin, whatever
their opinions about the expedieney OF
bringing ID 10 the fore at this time
II Ia rs much AS any mans public
career II worth ON the Pacific Coast IA
show himself AZ all lukewarm about the
exclusion Of japanese and also about
the exclusion Of lllndns, For the lat
Tor people arc nOw coming 10 the ia
eide Coast, especially "a Washington
state 10 great numbers they are con
sianily moving southwark inio Oregon
and california, where ihey nre employ
~ la iaIEs gangs nlt0n The railroads
The nindus live Yefy rheAliy and az
very offensive 10 The inhuTlng mfn III
AmrnfhH sflgsnshlp. Tho labor upianl
the f0HHfgh nfff are iHtlna ~ ihi
rapas neslun ihe lllnAal alHesi a W
ufrslsaf ~ sgaind ~ dapanese and
no thinfaf
nlana NJ I.ahanial.