Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
ON FINAL VOTE TODAY
Fight Over Japanese Bill in
California Assembly.
OUTCOME IS UNCERTAIN
Friends of Gov. Gillett Hope to Block
Legislation.
EASTERN CRITICISM RESENTED
Feeling Against California Charged
to Sordid Motives-Final japanese
Exclusion Predicted.

SACRAMENTO, CAL. February 3.-As
semblyman Drew's bill aimed at the
Japanese in California. founded upon the
Oklahoma law and denying the subjects
Of mikado the right to hold land, will
come up before the lower house today fol
passage by that body. There is every
expectation Of a fight on the bill, Drew
taking the floor in behalf OF his measure
but the signs point to its defeat In &C
cordance with the wishes of Gov
Gillett, as suggested by President Roose'
welt.
Assemblyman Drew received today 6
letter from the President, in which HI
said he was not opposed to the Drew
bill prohibiting all aliens owning lands.
The action of the Nevada legislature
which yesterday passed resolutions call
ing upon California to disregard the
warning and wishes of the President has
caused intense interest here, but does not
seeem to have swerved those legislators
who have determined to follow the sug-
gestions of the governor.
The San Francisco delegation, whose
members rely for support upon the ad-
herents of the "Japs must go" policy
will, of course, line up with Drew and
Grove Johnson of this city. Officers OF
the Japanese Exclusion League are or
the ground to see that these members
follow the lines laid down for them and
some of them will take the opportunity
to coin political capital by making in
temperate speeches In favor Of the Drew
bill. Notwithstanding such tactics, there
will probably be enough members willing
to follow the Gillett program to prevent
the enactment.
Committee Supports Governor.
The senate committee on executive
measures yesterday filed its reports com
mending the stand assumed by Gov. Gill
lett and signed by Senators Hurd, Bills
and Lewis.
A minority report is expected from
Senators Campbell and Finn, the latter
elected on the San Francisco union labor
ticket, who refused to concur.
The majority report declares in sub
are acting wisely in checking legislation
which would be menace to the welfare
of the entire country. To single out any
particular nation, it is pointed out, would
bring the state into conflict with the fed.
eral Constitution and make California ri
diculous in the eyes Of the world.
1t closes by suggesting that the matter
is one for the national government to
handle.
Resent Eastern Criticism.
The criticisms Of the eastern press or
the anti-Japanese feeling in this state has
aroused a storm Of protest from the pa
pers Of California. The California papers
generally complain that the real attitude
of the people Of this state is not under
stood east. Most of these papers regard
the exclusion of the Japanese to be boil
necessary and inevitable, and they ex-
press the fear that the action Of the state
legislature will retard rather than to ad.
vance this solution OF the problem.
The San Francisco Chronicle today com
plains that the feeling against California
in the east is entirely based on two mair
motives. both sordid one is to keep soli6
with Japan and thereby promote the sale
Of cotton goods and kerosene. no matter
at what cost to the unfortunate people OF
the Pacific coast, and the other Is &c
force Congress to make heavier appropri
atoms for the army and navy"
The paper predicts the exclusion oil
Japanese by domestic law as the only
logical solution Of the problem, and II
maintains that in this desire to keep the
Pacific coast "a white mans country
two-thirds Of the people of the country
are with California.