MASS MEETING IS HELD BY LOCAL JAPANESE

Speakers Advise Brown Colonists to Make No Open Fight Against Agitation, and Admit Many Charges Are True.

A Japanese mass meeting was held in the auditorium of the Young Men's Christian Association on Wednesday which was intended as a warning to the brown Asiatic population in this country. It resulted in a great demonstration which should be a warning to the American people. That such a meeting could be held in an Occidental city is a revelation of Japanese strength in San Francisco. Only the better class of Japanese were present, but they crowded the capacious floor of the auditorium and filled the gallery to overflowing. Upon the stage were representative men of the Japanese colony and two clergymen who have made a specialty of mission work among the Asiatics.

Rev. Ernest A. Sturge, superintendent of the Japanese Presbyterian Church and Mission, advised his hearers to sit still and do nothing, promising them that if they performed their duty the storm of indignation which had been raised by the articles in the "Chronicle" would blow over. Other speakers pointed out the necessity of abandoning the evil ways practiced by many of their countrymen, the most remarkable feature of the evening being the practical acknowledgment of many of the allegations made by the "Chronicle." Rev. Herbert Johnson, superintendent of the Methodist Mission, lamented the fact that many of the Japanese in San Francisco, especially those located in the down-town section, give cause for such campaigns as the one now being waged against them.

Among the speakers who represented secular interests were S. Otruka, editor of the Japanese New World, and G.I. Keda, secretary of the Japanese Society. They insisted that the only safety lay in inaction and in the avoidance of overt acts which would attract unfavorable public attention to the Japanese. Anything like a formal protest addressed to those in power they thought would be deplorable.

The whole evening was devoted to an effort on the part of the better-educated subjects of the Mikado in this city to make amends for their more ignorant compatriots.

Among the speakers not already mentioned were: T. Orito, superintendent of the Japanese Christian Association; Rev. J. Hiroia, Rev. N. Yanagihara and Dr. Herbert Johnson, all of the Methodist denomination, and Rev. I.L. Watanabe and T. Hosokai, officers of the Japanese Young Men's Christian Association.

The Japanese Consul were not present, as it was desired to avoid anything like a political appearance to the meeting, which was called by the various Japanese missions of the city.