Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-14

The Governor of California wrote
to Governor Baxter asking that he
urge the Maine representatives in
Congress to favor the absolute eX-
clusion Of Japanese immigration.
Governor Baxter did not feel that it
was proper for the Governor OF
Maine to attempt to influence the
Maine delegation in Washington on
this international question and he
replied that he could not use his
position to favor such a policy. Gov
ernor Baxter has travelled both in
California and in Japan and so has
first hand information ON the Cali
fornia- Japanese situation.
The letter from Governor Stephens
was as follows:
April 10, 1921.
Hon. Percival p. Baxter,
Governor of Maine.
Augusta, Maine.
My dear GOVERNOR
The California Legislature, on
April 10, passed unanimously Joint
Resolution No. 26, embodyinS dec
laration of CALIFORNIA; principles in
the matter of Japanese immigration,
and urging upon the President, the
State Department, and Congress, the
endorsement and adoption thereof.
AS a frontier state California is
making the fight of the Nation
against the incoming rush of an alien,
unassimilable race, which would en-
gulf our civilization, our traditions,
and our ideals. Without cooperation
of the other states, California cannot
hope to secure such action as will
put stop to the future development
in this country of an alien, I'M
assimilable community which must in
time engender racial conflict and in
ternational MISUNDERSTANDING. The
way to preserve peace with Japan is
to act in this matter with justice and
decision. and to place about our
American citizenship and economic
interests such protection as Japan
properly places about her own.
In view of these facts, am taking
the liberty of asking your assistance
in upholding California's stand in
this matter. Your State Legislature
is probably not in session at this
time, but you can aid in this fight
for the preservation of the Nations
interests by urging, or recommend
ing. that they cooperate with the
California delegation in an effort to
secure absolute exclusion of Japan
ese immigration, under conditions
which will save any real humiliation
to Japan, and will make for peace
now, and permanent friendship here
after between this country and
Japan.
Yours very truly,
WILLIAM D. STEPHENS,
Governor of California.
To this letter Governor Baxter
made the following reply:
April %. 1921.
The Honorable William D. Stephens,
Governor Of California,
Sacramento, California.
My dear Governor Stephens:---
received your letter of April 18th
and as Governor of the State of
Maine cannot accede to your request
to aid you in furthering the policy of
absolute exclusion of Japanese i'm
migration. l realize that the Japanese
question is a local one and have not
been in sympathy with the position
taken by a certain group Of citizens
on the Pacific coast. Having travel
ed extensively in Japan and China
I respect the people of those coun-
tries and feel that they should be ac-
corded the same treatment that is
given to the citizens of other foreign
countries. These people have tradi-
tions of centuries behind them, and
are as proud and as high spirited as
the people of our own country.
l deplore the talk of war with
Japan. There are selfish interests at
work in this country that seek to