The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-10-13
OBJECTED TEL: TO GRAPE !
~ JUICE: HE GOT WINE
American Congressman in
Japan Dropped Hints; Then
All Went Quite Well - =.
BY Henry w. Kinney
limited Press CORRESPONDENT

Tokyo, Sept. 8. '(By Mail.)-The
congressional party, or rather the
remnant thereof, consisting OF one
senator and ten congressman swho
made the trip thru Korea and to ia
pan, finallyireached Tokyo last plight
and were given very cordial recep-
ton by large number OF high Jap
anese officials and members of the
American embassy staff, other mem
bers OF the American colony being
mainly noticeable by their absence.
The party has been, put up In the
Imperial Hotel, and will now run the
gamut of a series of official recep-
lions, garden parties, dinners and
other such entertainment. The Jap
anese frankly admit that they are
aware Of the fact that their enemies
will claim that they are trying to
prejudice the congressional visitors in
their favor by appeal to, their stom-
achs rather than to their brains, but
they want nevertheless to show the
travellers every possible courtesy and
will trust to their good sense not to
misjudge their motives.
The merry whirl began with
great luncheon, attended by about
five hundred persons, principally jap
anese officials, and given by Prince
Tokugawa, President of the House of
Peers and Speaker Okla of the House
Of Representatives. The usual well
come speeches were responded to by
Senator w. J. Harris and by Con-
gresham John w. Small. The lat
ter said, referring evidently to Cali
fornia, that one state cannot sway
the public opinion of the entire Unit
ed States, adding that those who
were trying to exaggerate the differ
ences between the United States and
Japan were only jingoes. Both coun-
tries were to intent on Justice and
were too friendly disposed toward
each other ever to make 1t possible
for any difficulty to find solution In
other than a pacific manner.
The Japanese had plainly taken
the hint given when some Of the
congressman let 1T be known that
China's action in serving grape juice
only at many banquets there had
been too exaggerated an attention to
their feelings as citizens of dry Unit
ed States, and at the luncheon they
enjoyed three kinds of wine.
The only incident which has mar
red the trip so far is that in which
Congressman Hersman of California,
was the hero in Seoul, when the ap-
peared at meeting Of Koreans made
speeches until the meeting was de-
clared of by the police. When the
police interferred with the Koreans,
Hersman interferred with them and
1t took an hour to straighten out the
matter. Officially 1t Is now insisted
by the party that Hersman actually
did not know that the meeting had
been called of and that he went
there quite innocently.
The Tokyo papers have been anx-
ious to get from Hermsan his YER
sion Of the affair, but he is not with
the party, having remained behind
at Nara to look after his mother
who is ILL.,
The Tokyo daily Torodzu in speak
ing Of this incident says: HAS not
Mr. Hersman fallen into a trap laid
by the Koreans? He is a member OF
Congress from California. Has he
himself staged the whole incident in
order to obtain a souvenir which he
may bring home to aid the cause Of
anti-Japanese agitation"
While, prior to the arrival of the
party, the Tokyo papers took COM
paratively little notice of their COM
ing, they have made up for lost time
during the past few days. Their
comment has on the whole been ex-
,tremely friendly, great note which
is running thru it all being that bet
ter acquaintance with Japan and
Japanese may tend to inspire the
congressman with feeling of friend
illness toward that nation.