JAPS NOT WANTED AS FRATERNITY BROTHERS

Greek Letter Societies at University of Washington Do Not Welcome Little Brown Men to Membership.

ACTION MAY BE TAKEN BY NATIONAL BODIES

Although Oriental Collegians Stand Well in Classes, Students Strongly Oppose Social Affiliation With Them.

Greek letter fraternities at the University of Washington will not admit Japanese students to membership and discrimination against the little brown college men, in that respect, is growing steadily throughout the United States. No Japanese has ever been admitted by any of the secret societies at the State University here and they never will be, according to vigorous statements made by prominent members of the fraternities. Many of these societies have provisions in their constitutions excluding any but members of the white race, while the others that have at times initiated Japanese, have determined not to do so in the future.

The Phi Delta Theta fraternity in convention assembled in Washington City, recently discussed the question informally, in the light of the sentiments in President Roosevelt's message. Professor Arthur Ragan Priest, dean of the college of liberal arts, who attended the convention, returning to the campus yesterday, says that no definite action was taken, but that there seemed to be a strong sentiment against making "frat brothers" of the Japanese. The delegates were divided on the subject, however, several championing the cause of the brown men vigorously. Phi Delta Theta now has three Japanese members in its active chapters in the East. It is understood that there was some lobby talk about dropping these members, but Professor Priest says that, if there was any serious intentions of so doing, the instigators in the movement did not make their intentions known to him.

While the feeling toward the Japanese by the majority of the students at the University of Washington is, for the most part, cordial, the fraternity men would never think of admitting any to brother with them. This fact is attested by the statements of a number of fraternity men, prominent in their chapters. The feeling against granting citizenship to the Orientals is strong, much less initiating them into the Greek mysteries.

S.A.E. Wants Only Caucasians.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon is one of the national fraternities that does not admit the Japanese to membership. The race is not specified in the constitution as undesirable, but a rule exists to the effect that only Caucasians of the Christian religion, are eligible.

Beta Theta Pi has no constitutional objections to the Orientals, according to a member at the University, but there are only about three members of the race belonging to its various chapters. The issue has never been raised in a convention of the fraternity, it is said. Japanese admitted to any of the national college secret societies, have affiliated as honorary, rather than as active members and, in the majority of cases, they have been admitted because of extraordinary academic achievements.

"The fraternities nationally have never been confronted with this question seriously," a leading fraternity man at the U. of W. today said. "In the Eastern and Southern institutions there have been so few Japanese that the question has never been a pressing one. In forming their rules, they never thought of the brown men and the question scarcely has been discussed. In the West, however, there are many Japanese and the national fraternity bodies soon will have to take cognizance of the fact and act one way or the other. In view of the President's plea for citizenship for them, I think the conventions in the future surely will act on the matter.

Sentiment Becoming Adverse.

"While the frats do not in so many words exclude the brown men, there is tacit understanding generally that such persons are not to be rushed, except under unusual conditions. I do not look upon it in the light of a discrimination. The collegians are not hostile to the Orientals, but they simply never think of them, with a view of making initiates of them. I expect to see the sentiment grow against them rather than in their favor."

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity holds its biennial convention in Atlanta, Georgia, during the Christmas recess. Alpha Tau Omega meets at Birmingham at the same time and a number of other societies also are scheduled to convene. It is stated on good authority that the Jap question will be discussed at these conventions.

The Japanese students at the university are conscientious, studious and bright. They are favorites with the instructors because they are honest, persevering and ambitious. One of the only two students who ever graduated with honors from the engineering department at the University, was a Japanese, who is now doing well in electrical engineering. A Japanese is one of the brightest men in the senior class. He is Yamaguchi Uyehara, who has carried much more than the prescribed course during his residence at the University, besides being assistant editor of one of the most influential local Japanese papers and a trusted and valuable employe of the Seattle Electric Company in the light department. Uyehara attended Seattle High School for four years, before matriculating at the University and has achieved distinction as a mathematician. He will study law in Harvard next year, then visit European countries to study government conditions. He expects to enter the diplomatic service of his own country ultimately. The Japanese have many friends among the white students in spite of the fact that they cannot be admitted to the joys of fraternity fellowship.