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The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY
Entered nt tho PoBtofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
an Mccond-claHB matter.
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
nt tho Japanese Bhould bo avoided if possible.
Tho secretary will keep in touch with the presi
dent by telegraph and until his arrival in Saora
monto tho administration is In hopes that no
action will bo taken in California.
Following is an Associated Press dispatch:
Sacramento, Cal., April 24. Not the dignity of
Japan, but tho dignity of California is at stake
in tho controversy over the anti-alien law, ac
cording to Governor Johnson, and if tho plans
of tho majority party hero give offenso to the
government at Tolcio, tho California executive
absolves the state from blamo on the ground
that federal statutes already have drawn tho
lino which tho state seeks to establish. In a
statement issued today Governor Johnson de
fined tho position of tho logislativo majority in
tho matter, trusting that Secretary of Stato
Bryan, who is enrouto from Washington to Sac
ramento to present tho views of the federal ad
ministration, might learn thereby tho attitude
of California towards a law denying land owner
ship in tho stato to aliens barred from citizen
ship in tho nation. That this restriction applies
to tho subjects of Japan or any other nation is
not tho fault of California, according to the
views of the governor.
Such a law is being drafted tonight by Senator
Thompson. It will be known as the alien land
act, and will apply solely to members of foreign
raceB described in federal laws and judicial de
cisions as ineligible to citizenship in tho United
States. When Secretary Bryan arrives ho will
bo confronted with tho new draft of tho bill
and tho question of whether or not it is dis
criminatory. Governor Johnson's view on this
po!?m is Bet 'orth in h,B statement as follows:
Tho nation has solemnly decreed that certain
races, among whom are tho Japanese, are not
eligible to citizenship. . Tho lino has been drawn,
not by California, but by the United States. Dis
crimination, if it over occurred came and wont
when tho nation declared who and who woro not
eligible to citizenship. If California follows tho
lino marked out by tho federal government tho
United States and not California should bo
accused of discrimination."
If tho justice of this view is conceded by Sec
rotary Bryan in tho conferenco ho will hold
with tho governor and the members of the
Le,?iislanre thero Ia littl0 doubt tu Thompson
bill will pass unless Socretuiry Bryan states
reasons of great urgency and can convince the
leaders hero that such action by tho California
legislature would precipitate a grave crisis
The democrats in both houses have conceived
tho idea of calling a conferenco of tho gover
nors of Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Ari
zona to meet with Secretary Bryan and Gover
nor Johnson noxt week, with a view of brincine
about concerted action on tho alien land Ques
tion. Resolutions will be introduced in both houses
tomorrow directing that invitations he tele
graphed to the oxecutivo of these states
Thore is little sympathy for tho plan among
the majority, who having asserted their right
The Commoner.
as a state to act, now declare that such a con
ference would only servo to cloud the issue.
Governor Johnson in his statement said:
"Tho suggestion of tho president that the sec
retary of stato visit California for a conference
on the pending land bills was at once accepted
by both houses of tho legislature and by the
governor and wo will be glad to welcome Mr.
Bryan on his arrival. While the legislature very
properly maintained tho right of the state to
legislate on a matter clearly within its juris
diction, I am sure there is no disposition to en
croach on the international functions of the
federal government, or to wound the sensibili
ties of any nation. My protest has been against
the discrimination to which California has been
subjected in the assumption that action which
has been accepted without demur when taken
by other states and by the nation, is offensive
if even discussed by California. I am merely de
fending tho right of California to consider and
if its legislators deem advisable to enact a law
which is clearly within both its legal power and
its moral rights.
"Much has been said of the dignity of Japan.
We would not willingly affront the dignity of
Japan or other nations. But what shall be said
of the proposition that a great state, itself an
empire, with possibilities greater than those of
most nations, shall be halted from the mere con
sideration of legislative acts admittedly within
its jurisdiction by the protests of a foreign
power which has itself enacted even more strin
gent regulations on the same Bubject?
"What of the dignity of California? Ad
mittedly California has a right to pass an alien
land bill. No one suggests that such a' bill
should in terms describe' the Japanese. It has
been suggested that such a law in California
shall follow tho distinctions, which are already
a part of the law and policy of the United States.
The United States has determined who are
eligible to citizenship. The nation has solemnly
decreed that certain races, among whom are the
Japanese, are not eligible to citizenship. Tho
lino has been drawn, not by California, but by
tho United States. Discrimination, if it ever
occurred, camo and went when the nation de
clared who were and who were not eligible to
citizenship. If California continues the line
marked out by the federal government it should
not be accused of discrimination.
"Tho constitution of California since 1879
said that the 'presence of foreigners ineligible
to become citizens is declared to be dangerous
to the well-being of the state, and the legisla
ture shall discourage their immigration by all
means which are in its power."
The alien land law of tho state of Washing
ton provides that "any alien, except such as by
the laws of the United States are incapable of
becoming citizens of the United States, may
acquire and hold lands, etc."
t The state of Arizona, in 1912, enacted that
no Person not eligible to become a citizen of
the Unites States shall acquire title to any land
or real estate.' No protest was made against
this policy of the laws of tho United States, nor
against its adoption into the laws of Washing-
rAriZ?na' , If thQ leeislture of California
were to determine on similar action it would
be-merely following the declaration of our con
stitution, the policy of the United States goverS-
VT.rn,iePreiedeft of at least tw states.
a ,quetion In a11 its various forms is an
old and familiar one. The only new thing abort
n sth(hy?terla which it seems to arousl when
California is the place in which it come ui?
My protest has been lodged against this SacriSt
nation The state will not willingly do anything
against which there are just objections but if
does resist being singled out on matters which
pass unprotested when they happen elMwhwe "
The governor's statement was hailed with en
thusiasm by administration leaders n the leirfE
attire, who declared it outlined their posfuon
in the matter exactly. It was announced thS
morning that democrats in botS houses werl
planning to introduce a resolution calling for
a conference of all governors west of the Rockv
mountains to be held in Sacramento durine Spo
retary Bryan's visit for the nurnosfi of " 5te
upon a general policy .on alien Tand ownershSf
Such resolutions may be introduced Th02
will not have the support of 'the adminfstratioS
loaders, who declared when they learned of th
Plan that such a plan was unnecessary and Jotat
"amSrnbiya. 8tateS WUld mea MnVtr
VOLUME 13, NUMBER iT
JAPANESE AND CALIFORNIA
The following is from the New Torlc World
Tho current report of John P. McLaughlin lab
commissioner of California, himself violently
anti-Japanese, shows that the Japanese own i?
726 acres of land, an increase since IOoq .
1,935 acres. There are about 12,000,000 Ll
of agricultural land in tho state. acres
In tho same document it is said that 7-m
lease 17,596 acres, a decrease since 1909
2,698 acres. iJ09 oI
The anti-Japanese 'agitators always speak of
"the hordes of Japanese who are pourine U
the state." According to the report of the com
missioner of immigration for 1911 and hl hi
letln for March, 1912, the number of Ja LI"
in California decreased 4,933 during the two
years and nine months preceding the last-m
tioned date.
The Oakland (Cal.) Tribune of April ion
says: "The land-holdings of the Japanese in
this state are inconsiderable, George Shima is
tho only large Japanese land-owner in Call
fornia, and the only offense he has committed
is making potatoes more abundant and
"cheaper."
Tho Pasadena (Cal.) News of April 8, 1913
says: "Chinese exclusion has not benefited Cali
fornia. If we permitted a limited influx of the
race our horticultural interests would not have
to depend so completely on the Japanese and
our housekeeping burdens would be immeasur
ably lightened. Drat this racial prejudice, this
narrow, bigoted point of view, anyway!"
In a letter to the Oakland Tribune of April 11,
1913, John P. Irish, formerly of Iowa, says:'
"This, legislation in its origin and progress has
been promoted by the most glaring falsehoods
and the most malevolent misrepresentations."
Tho San Francisco Chronicle of April 15,
1913, says: "To enact such a law is to make
every commercial nation on earth a virulent
enemy of California, with most effective powers
of retaliation, which liuman nature assures us
would be put to immediate use. If California
insists on boycotting aliens its people may ex
pect with perfect confidence a .return boycott
which will make us squirm."
Tho samo newspaper of April 9 last said: "As
.a matter of fact the Japanese population among
us is not increasing Qr likely to increase, and
the number now here is not large enough to
seriously affect any interest. There is no doubt
of the existence of all necessary legal power in
the nation to deal with the Japanese question
as it sees fit. It will be best for us not to invoke
the exercise of that power. We aro not suffer
ing in any way which justifies the risk."
The San Francisco Evening Post of April 10,
1913, says: "California has worried along
without these laws for fifty years and no great
injury has resulted."
Idaho and the state of Washington havo re
cently revised their land laws in favor of aliens.
Idaho now makes no discrimination whatever.
Washington permits all foreigners to own urban
land, but excludes them from rural districts.
Much of the land in California which Japanese
own or lease is in the least desirable regions of
the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, which
white people shunned for many years. By
drainage and high cultivation, the result of al
most incredible labor, these lands are now pro
lific and valuable. If the pending legislation be
comes effective the property will pass by forced
sale from the hands of the industrious people
who reclaimed it.
CALIFORNIA'S AOTI-ALEEN LAND BILL
A newspaper discussion concerning the Cali
fornia matter is given by the Literary Digest
in the following way:
Tho president's inclination not to interfere
with California's enactment of an alien land
law frankly aimed at Japanese farmers is
expected by the press to bring this question up
to tho supreme court for decision as to whether
Buch a law conflicts with the treaty of 19H.
1 he point at issue is whether a state has a right
under the treaty to prohibit aliens "from owning
land or holding leases for long periods unless
they are prospective citizens. Many American
newspapers outside California argue in the nega
tive, and so do some of the Japanese papers, as
well as the Japanese government authorities,
who sent Ambassador Chinda to confer with'
secretary of State Bryan about the affair. Tho
acuteness of the situation in California is evi
denced by a telegram sent to Congressman John
&. Raker, at Washington, by State Senator J. B.
banford, in which he said that "if the legislature
Tefuses to enact such a law, the people will re
sort to the initiative." It has been suggested
by some of the eastern papers that discrimina
tory land laws would not only conflict with the
treaty, but would also deprive the Japanese in
thiB country of property rights similar to those
enjoyed by Americans in Japan, to which the
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