JAPANESE ARE DIVIDED BY MAID

Disturbance Is Result at Nipponese Meeting When the Friends of Sei Kodama Try to Defend Her Good Name.

LIBEL SUIT MAY BREAK MANY TIES

Colony Aligning Itself Into Two Factions Because of Arrest of Editor of Asahi Shinbun for Articles Published.

One diminutive maid of Nippon has so stirred up the local Japanese colony as a result of her objection to the notoriety given her by the Asahi Shinbun (a Japanese daily newspaper), that almost every loyal son of the Mikado in Seattle has taken sides for or against her, and when the matter was broached at a meeting of young men last night such a disturbance resulted that the session was finally adjourned.

Friends of C.H. Yoshimura, editor of the Shinbun, who was arrested last week on a charge of criminal libel growing out of articles alleged to reflect on the good name of Miss Sei Kodama, were present in large numbers last night at the regular weekly meeting of the Young Men's Association. A few friends of Miss Kodama and Rev. S. Yoshioka, the Methodist pastor, whose name is linked with that of the girl, were also in attendance.

Session Closed in Row.

Several of the young men spoke in behalf of the Shinbun and expressed the opinion that the editor had spoken the truth. Then three champions of Miss Kodama arose and tried to address the meeting on the other side, but the jeers and other disturbance that followed drowned their voices and they finally retired from the platform and the session was brought to a hasty close.

Mr. Yoshimura, who is out of jail under bonds, awaiting the outcome of the libel charges pending against him, and H.J. Kato, his associate, have engaged counsel and are preparing an elaborate defense of their action in publishing articles which Rev. Mr. Yoshioka and Miss Kodama consider as directed at them.

"There are good men and bad men among Japanese pastor, the likeness of which is sometime existence among Americans," explained Mr. Kato this morning to a reporter for The Times, "and American public must not think because mistaken notion of all ministers are good may be true in their case that same is not apply to Japanese men of cloth and letters and Bible learning. Many witnesses are obtaining each day to disapprove what I have theorize and I hope to convince prosecuting attorney of sameness."

Sought a Sensation.

Rev. Mr. Yoshioka this morning said:

"I know of no personal reasons why the Asahi Shinbun took occasion to malign the young woman who is residing in my home.

"There are four Japanese papers in Seattle and like their American contemporaries they are striving to build up circulation and advertising.

"If the Shinbun had printed a story about an inmate of the restricted district it would have attracted but little or no attention, so I presume they sought to create a sensation by using the name of a young woman who was in the home of a minister. It is simply a sample of Japanese yellow journalism."

Judge A.W. Frater of the superior court this morning set the case against Yoshimura for trial on May 18.