Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1909 — EXCLUDES JAPS FROM SCHOOLS [ARTICLE]

EXCLUDES JAPS FROM SCHOOLS

President Astonished by Adoption of Bill. HE KEEPS THE WIRES HOT

Legislature of Golden State Surprises Washington by Passing*What Is Re'garded as the Most Objectionably of All the Measures Introduced by Law Makers Who Regard the Mikado’s Subjects as a Menace Goes Through by Vote of 46 to 23. Sacramento, Cal., Feb. s.—Governor Gillett has received the following telegram from President Roosevelt: Your kind letter just received. What is the rumor that the California legislature has passed a bill excluding the Japanese children from the public schools? This Is the most offensive bill of all and, In my judgment, is clearly unconstitutional and we shall at once have to test It in the courts. Can It be stopped In the legislature or by veto? Governor Gillett Immediately wired a reply and\ asked for an answer at once. He refused to discuss the nature of the message to Washington. Most Offensive of All. With the defeat in the lower house of the legislature of two of the antiJapanese measures, followed by the unexpected passage of a third bill segregating Japanese school children in separate schools along with Chinese, Koreans and other Asiatics, regarded as the most offensive measure of all, President Roosevelt again took a hand in the anti-Japanese legislation that for the last week has drawn inter-, national attention to California. The bill passed, which was one of three anti-Japanese measures introduced by Assemblyman Grove L. Johnson, places the Japanese in the same classification with other Asiatics and inserts the word “Japanese” in the present state statute providing for the segregation in' separate schools of Mongolian children. By this action the low*r house has taken the step which the board of education of San Francisco intended to take two years ago. May Be Reconsidered. At that time it was contended by the Japanese that they were not Mongolians, and they resented the efforts to place them in the same class with the Chinese, Koreans and other Asiatic races.

The school board contended itself with the adoption of a rule limiting the age of pupils that would be permitted to attend the lower grades, one of the principal objections being that Japanese adults were in daily association with white children of tender years. It is possible that on Assemblyman Leeds' motion to reconsider the bill will be knocked out today. The measure compelling Japanese to attend separate public schools passed by a vote of 46 to 28.

Carson, Nev., Feb. s.—The Giffen anti-Japanese resolution', shorn of its reference to President Roosevelt, came up in the senate and was referred to the judiciary committtee It is said this committee will smother it in accordances with the wishes of United States Senators Nixon and Newlands. Senator Newlands has sent the following letter to Governor Denver S. Dickerson: “With a view to moderating any action tending to create friction between Japan and this country, I take the liberty of suggesting to the legislature, through you, a plan of action which,whilst indicating a proper solicitude for lelations of friendship and amity with Japan, will mark clearly our purpose to maintain this country as the home of the white race free from such racial competition and antagonism on our own soil as will surely breed domestic violence and international hatred. Danger on All Sides. “We have drifted into a condition regarding the black race which constitutes the great problem and peril of the future. Confronting our Pacific coast lies Asia, .with nearly a billion people of the brown race, who, if there were no restrictions, would quickly settle upon and take possession of our entire coast and intermountain region. “Race tolerance, under such conditions. means race amalgamation, and that is undesirable. Race intolerance means, ultimately, race war and mutual destruction, or the reduction of one of the races to servitude The presence of the Chinese, who are patient and submissive, would not create as many complications as the presence of the Japanese, whose strong and virile qualities would constitute an additional' factor of difficulty. "Our friendship, therefore, with Japan demands that this friendship should not be put to the test by bringing two such powerful races of such differing views ;and standards into industrial competition upon the same soil. “There is but one consistent position to assume, and that is to relegate the whole question to domestic legislation in each country, permitting each to make such laws regarding the regulation, restriction or prevention of immigration as it sees fit. The time has come, in my judgment, when the United States must declare by statu- * . I ' : -

tory enactment that It will not tolerat* farther race complications. Our country should, by law, to take effect after the expiration, of existing treaties, prevent the immigration into this country of all peoples other than those of the white race, except under restricted conditions relating to International commerce, travel and education. “I give this utterance reluctantly, for I am not disposed to participate in the prevailing sensationalism; but the issue has. Veil made; the public attention is c _,ed to the question, and failure upon the part of our western communities tom eet it candidly and courageously, might be regarded In the eastern states, whose people are unfamiliar with the economic and social dangers attendant upon Asiatic immigration, to believe that we have abandoned our convictions.”