The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-29
California Legislature Again
Warned by Governor.
ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL LETTER
President Roosevelt Declares It
Would Be Dangerous to En-
act Discriminatory Laws
Against japanese.

Sacramento, Cal, Jan. Ex-Governor
Gillett's message to the legislature
on the Japanese question has had the
effect Of crystalliZing the sentiment
for and against the bills introduced by
Drew and Johnson, against which
President Roosevelt has invoked the
governors power and which are up In
the Legislature today.
The president informed the governor
that 1t would be extremely dangerous
for the legislature to enact any laws
that might be construed by Japan as
discriminatory. He wired Governor
Gillett that another letter to him was
on the way. This is expected to throw
more light on the situation as regards
Japan and America.
Grove j.. Johnson, author Of the bill
segregating Japanese in residential
quarters at the option of municipali-
ties, had the measure made a special
order for today. Two other Japanese
measures are also before the lower
house today.
The bill by A. N. Drew denying
aliens the right to hold land was set
for consideration today at the request
Of the author after the governor had
indicated that he desired such legisla-
tion held up.
Speaker Stanton and the assembly
organization are against all of the
bills objected to by the national ad-
ministration. The fight in behalf Of
them comes from Grove l.. Johnson,
San Francisco delegate, and those as
semblymen who have many union la
ber constituents.
In his message to the legislature
Governor Gillett said:
There is certain legislation now pend
ing before you which 1 believe to be Of
grave concern not only to our state but
to the nation as well and which should
be most thoughtfully considered before it
is acted upon.
Certain bills have been introduced, some
of which have been favorably reported
by your committee, indirectly intended to
affect the Japanese people These bills
have attracted the notice of the whole
nation and have caused Japan to call the
attention of our government to them.
They have produced an agitation not only
in our own country, but throughout ia
pan, and the Japanese minister of for
eign affairs has stated to the authorities
at Washington that IL the bills should be
passed the government of Japan would
consider 1t very embarrassing.
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 provisions Of which, he
says. Japan is now carrying out. Fig
ures are here given showing decrease
In the immigration of Japanese, and
the governor says he knows Of moth
ing to sustain the assertion that the
Japanese population of California is
increasing. The message continues:
AS friendly allies many benefits will
lnure to both nations, and a great COM
merce can be carried on between them to
the advantage of our people, but as enc
mics the commerce of both can be driven
from the ocean. Every reason therefore
exists why there should continue be-
tween Japan and our government the
most friendly relations, and II Is the eX-
pressed wish Of each nation that this shall
be so.
While the settlement of the questions of
immigration is pending we should be
very careful about passing any legisla-
ton not absolutely necessary for our Inn
mediate protection, intended solely to af-
feet the Japanese people.
No law that this state can enact will
stop Japanese immigration. Congress
alone is vested with authority to pass
such legislation, and we must also rec
Ognize the fact that the japanese among
us are the subjects of a friendly nation
and are entitled to the same treatment
under our laws and to the same privileges
and immunities as are guaranteed to the
subjects of the most favored nations.
The president of the United States and
the secretary of state have issued a warn
Ing against pressing any bills of the ma
ture proposed. Their warning should be
needed This is a matter in which the
whole country is interested.
Whatever we shall attain in the way Of
restricting Japanese immigration must
come to us through treaties entered into
by the federal government or through
laws enacted by congress.