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President Roosevelt notifies President Walsh of the San Francisco Board of Education that he is “pleased by the news,” the lawsuit will be discontinued, and the immigration order issued.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-13
President Roosevelt congratulates Governor Norris on the prevention of discriminatory school segregation legislation against Japanese students. Roosevelt assures Norris that he will work to exclude Japanese laborers from immigration while maintaining a peaceful relationship with the Japanese government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-14
President Roosevelt explains to California Governor Gillett that protesters in San Francisco who want to exclude Japanese laborers are preventing their goal through their own actions. Japan has agreed not to issue passports to laborers as long as Americans do not discriminate against or insult the Japanese. Attempts in California to legislate discrimination against the Japanese will undermine this agreement with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-09
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of State Root to meet him soon about the potential legislation in California discriminating against Japanese students. Roosevelt wants to write an open letter or telegram to the Governor of California James Norris Gillett to oppose the measure. Refusing to restrain the Japanese immigration will make the situation worse. They can speak to Californians Victor Howard Metcalf and Frank P. Flint if needed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-10
President Roosevelt sent his March 9 letter to Governor Gillett before he learned that the California state legislature had passed a bill discriminating against Japanese in schools. Roosevelt expresses his displeasure with this bill because it undermines the agreement that he and Secretary of State Root had already established with California politicians, San Francisco mayor Eugene E. Schmitz, and the San Francisco Board of Education. The bill will make federal negotiations for excluding Japanese labor class immigrants more difficult.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-11
President Roosevelt instructs Attorney General Bonaparte to have the suit against the San Francisco Board of Education dismissed once the board adopts the resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
President Roosevelt encloses a copy of a telegram for Secretary of State Root. San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz “is a game man and has acted like a trump.” Roosevelt ordered the lawsuit to be dismissed as soon as the San Francisco Board of Education adopts the resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
President Roosevelt thanks San Francisco Mayor Schmitz and congratulates the people of California and the United States. Upon the Board of Education’s adoption of a resolution, he directed dismissal of the lawsuit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
President Roosevelt wishes the San Francisco Press Club “all good fortune” in their efforts to rebuild San Francisco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-15
President Roosevelt pens his son Kermit Roosevelt with updates about the family’s activities over the previous weekend, including rides on the presidential yacht and hikes with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. He is especially gushing about his wife, and Kermit’s mother, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s aptitude for physical activity and general intelligence. Roosevelt goes on to describe his trouble responding to the San Francisco Board of Eduction’s attempt to remove Japanese students from schools. He believes that the general distain for the Japanese among Americans on the Pacific Coast, stemming from labor disputes and racism, is to blame. Congress’ refusal to fund new fortifications in Hawaii and the Philippines has added to Roosevelt’s woes in the region.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-04
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on the comings and goings of the White House and his thoughts on a recent article that appeared in Outing. Roosevelt had hoped to keep his upcoming visit to Groton School and Harvard University private, but it has leaked. He is having difficulties resolving the segregation of Japanese students from San Fransisco schools and the resulting diplomatic tensions, but has decided immigration from Japan must be curtailed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root that he believes the current court case regarding Japanese school children in California should be pressed “as rapidly as possible.” He also notes that the law in question should should be only used for the benefit of Japanese children, and not for the Japanese population as a whole.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-05
President Roosevelt compliments Secretary of Labor and Commerce Metcalf on the case of the treatment of Japanese Americans on the coast. Roosevelt read his upcoming annual message to Japanese Ambassador Baron Kogoro Takahira before leaving for Panama. Roosevelt believes “the only way to prevent constant friction between the United States and Japan” is to restrict the movement of citizens between the two countries to students, travelers, and business men. The working classes of both countries should not go back and forth, and he hopes that the Japanese government will stop Japanese “coolies” from coming to the United States or Hawaii.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-27
President Roosevelt asks Jacob A. Riis for information about the Roosevelt Boys Club in San Francisco. He comments on public opinion regarding the spelling affair.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-26
Rudolph Forster relays a message from President Roosevelt in the absence of his personal secretary William Loeb, telling professor Benjamin Ide Wheeler that Roosevelt looks forward to the visit from Mayor of San Francisco Eugene E. Schmitz.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
President Roosevelt thanks Emperor Meiji of Japan for the kind letter he received referencing the contributions of the American Red Cross Society for the relief of famine in northeastern Japan. Roosevelt now thanks Meiji in turn for the generosity and sympathy the Japanese people have shown the people of San Francisco in the wake of the earthquake there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-11
President Roosevelt confirms receipt of Acting Secretary of the Treasury Taylor’s report on the assistance given by the Revenue Cutter Service to the people of San Francisco and has ordered it to be made public. He thanks Taylor and all the officers and enlisted men of the service for providing “prompt, gallant and efficient work.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-31
President Roosevelt is sorry to report that it is impossible for the Federal Government to act as William D. Sohier believes it should regarding disaster relief in San Francisco. The Army will be finished with its work in San Francisco in nine days, and the government will have no further power there. Neither will the National Red Cross be able to advantageously act, “save through the local committees.” Roosevelt has forwarded Sohier’s letter to Secretary of War William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-21
President Roosevelt introduces Cleveland H. Dodge to Henry J. McCoy, secretary of the San Francisco Young Men’s Christian Association. Roosevelt has given McCoy this letter of introduction because he takes an interest in the association’s work, and reminds Dodge that their building was burnt down in the earthquake and subsequent fire that struck San Francisco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-07
President Roosevelt thanks California Governor Pardee for the letter and copy of his speech, and sends his good wishes to California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-08