The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-02


MENTO. Feb. 1.-Governor Giilett is
unqualifiedly opposed to anti-alien leg
islation at the present time and is en-
tirely in accord with the views of the
president on this subject. Late tonight
the chief executive expressed his dis
approval of the Drew measure, which
denies to aliens the right to acquire
title TO real property in the state, and
1t is probable that this measure viii
be defeated in the lower house.
AT the present time we are develop
ing our resources, and have a great
deal of foreign capital in the state, "
said Gillett. -'Foreigners are inter
ested in our mines, in our cities, in our
agricultural lands and in our manufac-
turing establishments. In view of
these facts, I consider legislation which
would deprive these people of their
rights as most i'll advised. I think that
the presidents letter on the subject
showed plainly the wisdom Of not in
terfering with the federal government
at the present"
OPPOSES LEGISLATION
DO you think that It would be adj
visable TO enact the Drew measure at
this timer" the governor was asked.
4 do not approve of any legislation
along these lines at the present time.
The governor was shown a copy of a
telegram stating that the Legislature
of Nevada had passed a resolution d.
rected to the California Legislature
urging the latter to enact anti-Asiatic
laws. He refused to comment on the
dispatch 10 any way for publication,
but showed plainly that he did not
think the communication should affect
legislation in this state.
s.F nf no
assembly was indicated this morning,
when A NJ Drew sought to amend his
antisalien bill by substituting the
Oklahoma act, which denies to all
aliens the right to acquire. title to real
property. The judiciary committee had
returned the bill and the proposed
amendment with a favorable report,
and the chairman Of the committee
moved that the rules be suspended in
order that Drew might amend the
measure.
ACTION Is OPPOSED
Walter Leeds and j. P. Transue of
Los Angeles both opposed such action.
The former objected on the ground
that he had not attended the committee
meeting Saturday, as he had under
stood the matter would not be consid-
cred until today Transue insisted that
as an entirely new bill was being Of
fered as an amendment the. assembly
should deny the right to substitute the
Oklahoma act, his object being to force
Drew to introduce the amendment as a
new bill and thus make Ii Impossible 10
have the matter in readiness for the
special hearing that has been set for
Wednesday morning.
On rollcall the obstructionists were
voted down SO to IT, and Drew's amend
ment was then adopted. AS a result
the amended bill will be back from
| the printer in time for consideration
Wednesday morning.
A poll of the assembly tonight shows
| that there is a light majority against
the Drew bill as it stands at present
and it seems probable that the ma
jority will be Increased unless the
measure is amended in some of its es-
sential features. Thirty-nine members
have expressed themselves as being OPP
posed to the proposed law in its pres
ent form, and only 81 have expressed
favorable opinions.
VOTES ARE PLEDGED
At a caucus of the southern Califor-
MIA members this afternoon 16 votes
were pledged against the measure. This
was followed a short time later by an
| announcement from the democratic mi
nority that 1t would stand by the plat
form on which it was elected and sup
port the Drew measure unanimously
| The San Francisco delegation will vote
! unanimously in favor of the measure
/ with the possible exception Of Colonel
( George n. Perine.
Opposition to the bill is based or
various grounds. In the first place
the inclusion of all aliens has alienatec
members who would have supported the
bill in its original form. but who viii
not take the responsibility of driving
all foreign capital out of the state By
enacting hostile legislation intended
only for the Japanese. Some member:
are opposed because they take the
view that the matter is a question fol
the federal government to settle, while
| representatives, from agricultural dis
tricts contend that cheap Asiatic labor
! is necessary to harvest the fruit crops
The attitude of President Roosevelt
and of Governor Gillett also has draw
a great deal of support from The
measure.