The Daily Missoulian., 1909-01-27
GOVERNOR GlLLETT SENDS SPE.
cIAL MESSAGE TO cALiFoR.
MIA LEGISLATURE.
.PROFFERS A SUGGESTION
Radical Bills and Take Action Pro-
vidins for a Census to Determine to
What Extent the Japanese Are Pop
ulatins the Sunset State,

Sacramento, Jan. Ex-Governor Gil
let's message on the Japanese ques-
ton, sent to the legislature today. had
the effect of crystalliZing the senti-
ment for and against the bills by Drew
and johnson, against which President
Roosevelt has invoked all his power.
The president wired Governor Gillett
today that another letter was on the
way, and this is expected to throw
more light upon the exact situation
between Japan and America.
Assembyman Johnson, author OF
the bill segregating japanese in resi-
dental districts at the option o. mu-
inequalities, moved today. when the
measure came up for the third read
ing, that it be made a special or
der for tomorrow. Thus two Of the
anti-Japanese measures will ne be-
fore the lower house at that time, and
the fight, il any develops, will decide
the whole issues. The bill by A. n.
Drew denying aliens the right to hold
land was set for consideration to-
morrow, at the request of the author
after the governor had indicated that
he desired such legislation held up.
Speaker Stanton and the assembly or
ganization is against all of the bills
objected to by the administration. The
fight for them will come from Grove
l.. Johnson, the San Francisco dele
cation and assemblymen who have
great numbers of labor union con.
stituents.
Gilett's Message.
The message, in part is as follows:
ITO the senate and assembly of the
state of California:
There is certain legislation now
pending which | believe of grave
concern, not only to our state, but to
the nation as we'll, and which should
be most thoroughly considered before
it is acted upon.
Certain bills have been introduced,
some of which have been favorably
reported by your committees, indi
rectly intended to affect the Japanese
people-at least such is the impression
abroad. These bills have attracted
the notice of the whole nation and
have caused Japanese to call the at
tention of our government to them.
They have produced an agitation, not
only in our own country, but .hr, ugh
out Japan, and the Japanese minister
of foreign affairs has stated to the
authorities in Washington that if the
bills should be passed the government
of Japan would consider 1t very en-
barra ssing."
Reviews Work.
The governor then reviews what has
been done by the governments of the
United States and Japan, resulting in
a compact for the restriction of immi-
grafton, the provision of which, he
says, Japan is now carrying out. Fig
ures are given showing a decrease in
governor says he knows of nothing
to sustain the assertion that the Jap
anese population of California is in
creasing. The message continues:
This question of immigration is
one that effects the entire nation as
we'll as our state, and is one which the
federal government can alone settle.
1t may be settled in two ways.
First, by an agreement between
the two nations, which has been done,
or by legislation passed by congress,
as was done in the case of the Chi
nese.
Plain Duty
If we find that, in spite Of Japan's
her coolie labor continues to
pour into our state, or through call
ing themselves agriculturists, are land
ing on our shores and settling in our
cities or leasing and purchasing our
agricultural lands and chang
ing white settlements to japanese, to
the detriment of this state and its citi-
zens, then 1t Is our plain duty to call
the attention of the government to
the facts and petition it to take such
prompt action as may be proper, and,
by an agreement with Japan, or by
if necessary, to remedy
If our complaints are just
they will be taken up by congress and
the president and acted upon.
"While the settlement of these diff
ficulties is pending we should not act