Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-01-21
NQANTI-JAP LAWS
GOV. olLLETT SURE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE WILL NOT PASS
PROPOSED MEASURES.
PRESIDENT TAXES \ HAND
Declares the Action Of the AsItaters
Hampers the Federal Govern
ment In Its Work.
Some Figures.

Some Figures.
Sacramento, Cal, Jan. 20.--Accord
| ing to a statement made Tuesday
night by Gov. Gillett there will be nc
| legislation against Japanese at this
session Of the legislature. The gov
ernor authorized the following:
"After comforting with the leading
members Of both branches Of the legis'
lature, | am convinced that no legis'
Iation directed against the Japanese
will be enacted. am satisfied that
the people Of California and particu'
larly the members Of our legislature
appreciate the efforts being made BY
the federal government and the repre-
sentatives Of Japan to stop immigra-
ton to this country OF Japanese 10
borers, skilled and unskiiled.
"There can be no doubt that the
Japanese government is acting abso-
lutely in good faith In its endeavor to
prevent its people emlgrating to our
country, and in my Judgment It would
be a serious mistake while they are
so doing to enact any laws directed
against the Japanese people.
"This question is one in which the
foreign government is particularly In
terested and its wishes should be
carefully considered and will be, am
sure, by the people OF this state"
A general understanding was
reached Tuesday night by the lead
ers in the assembly regarding the
action to be taken Wednesday on the
Drew bill preventing aliens holding
lands, and the Johnson bill, denying
them the right to be directors in cor
porations. They have been made q
special order Of business and a fierce
fight is predicted by their friends.
Sacramento, Cal, Jan. 2O.--Presi-
dent Roosevelt has taken . hand In
the anti-Japanese legislation now be-
fore the California legislature and has
asked the governor to take steps to
have all legislation held up until the
president can be heard in the matter.
In telegram sent Saturday this re-
quest was embodied and . letter IL on
the way to Sacramento which will
give the chief executives views and
wishes in the matter Of legislation
against "the little brown men,"
President Roosevelt's letter to Gov.
Gillet dated January 16, follows:
my dear Governor:-I am greatly
concerned over the anti.Japanese bills
which are apparently going through
or are on their way through the Cali
fornia legislature. They are in every
sense most unfortunate. At last we
have in first class working order the
arrangement which with such DIM
Guilty we succeed In getting through
two years ago. The Japanese govern
ment is obviously acting In good faith.
During the six months ending October
81, last, the total number Of Japanese
who have come to the mainland Of
the United States has been 2,O74, and
the total number who have left has
been S,1S1. In other words, the whole
object nominally desired by those who
wish to prevent the incoming Of ia
panese laborers has been achieved.
More Japanese are leaving the
country than are coming in, and by
present Indications in a very few
years the number Of Japanese here
will be no greater than the number
OF Americans in Japan; that Is. the
movement will be as normal In one
case as in the other, which is Just
AZ we desire. There is, therefore,
no shadow Of excuse for action which
will simply produce great irritation
and may result in upsetting the pres
emit agreement and throwing open the
whole situation again.
These agitators have themselves
to thank II trouble comes from what
they do, II there Is any fresh Influx
Of Japanese hither. They hamper the
government in what 1t has
now 30 efficiently accomplishments
agreement BY peaceful means, and
the friendly initiative Of the
Japanese government. to keep Japan J
sse immigrants out Of the United
States save a. Americans themselves
visit Japan. Is It not possible to get /
he legislature to realize the grea.
inwisdom from the standpoint Of the !
country ut large, and above al from
he standpoint Of California, Of what
& being donef"