Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-04
California House Rejects Anti
Japanese Measures.
Johnson Bill Beaten in Assembly by
"a to Is.
VICTORY FOR BUSINESS MEN
Reasons Extraneous to the japanese
Question Regarded as Respon-
sible for the Result.

| SACRAMENTO. Cal. February T. -
| Grove L. .Johnsons bill prohibiting aliens
from being members of corporations. one
of the anti-Japanese bills to which Pres
dent Roosevelt objects, was refused pas
sage in the assembly today by vote OF
"a to 10
This vote shows a heavy falling off or
support for the measure since yesterday
when the vote the Drew anu-alieh
land bill was AS noes and - ayes
! After debate extending from II O'Clock
| in the morning until e pm the assem-
! bly,. by a vote of As to 2S, rejected the bill
drawn by A NJ Drew barring aliens from
ownership OF land in California
The bill had been amended at the re
quest of President Roosevelt and Secre-
! tary Root SO that the clause applying IL
| to Japanese only was eliminated. making
| the bill apply to all aliens, but the meas
| ure aroused such a storm Of opposition
that long before the debate was closed
by Mr.. Drew it was apparent that the
measure would be defeated
In substance the objection to it was
that it would drive at least billion
dollars of foreign capital out of the state
and might jeopardize the present friendly
commercial relations with Japan.
Crowds in Galleries.
One of the remarkable features of the
defeat of the bill was the fact that it
was accomplished in the face of an au-
dience of 1000 people who wildly APP
plauded every anti-Japanese sentiment ut
| tered by the proponents of the measure
Both sides made dramatic appeals to the
bod 1n,tac in Of n
than G. Goghlan. San Francisco as
semblyman, who was an opponent of the
bill. made a bitter attack on the Japa-
nese. He has a large labor union con-
Stituency and his opposition was based on
the plea that the bill would be distinctly
harmful to labor by driving capital away.
Gov. Gillett was highly pleased with the
action of the assembly 1t is expected
| that he will now proceed with the meas
ure which is designated to secure an ex-
act census on the Japanese In this state
Most of the opposition to the BILL accord
ing to the speeches of its opponents was
based on grounds eXtraneous to the Japa-
nese question or on the argument that its
passage would retard rather than hasten
the exclusion of the japanese from this
| country.
The supporters of the bill contended
that the state was being overrun by
! thrifty japanese, who were gradually
gaining an impreSnable position as land
owners. and that their government was
! trying to dictate TO California regarding
| legislation.
Johnson's Impassioned Speech.
Two sensational speeches were made,
one for and against the measure.
| Assemblyman Grove L. Johnson of Sac
ramento. congressman and author of
| four bills segregating Japanese in schools
and residential districts and preventing
| aliens being members of corporations,
| made an impassiOned appeal for the en-
actment of the Drew bill. At the climax
| of his speech he walked backward from
! his seat to the lobby rail. and. seizng in
| his arms a golden-haired girl of three
years, held her aloft and declared that
| he was lin favor of this as opposed TO
| the japanese menace to our institutions.
| II would rather that every foot of land
| in the state go back 10 its native wild
ness" Mr.. Johnson said. than that the
accursed foot of the Asiatic should be
set upon it to menace our institutions.
| 1.-Two years ago when We attempted TO
pass the segregation bill the President
sent frantic request for delay. We were
| told that if we put the matter off for
two years more the national authorities
would settle the whole matter by diplo-
matte negotiations We believed this and
we were fooled.
Nathan G. Cole of San Francisco, who
was elected with the Endorsement of the.
union labor party, opposed the Drew bill
on the ground that it was in conflict with
The state constitution. that ii was inim-
| ical to union labor and that it was not
! favored by the national administration
which. he said. was dealing with a deli
cate problem and should be supported by
! the people of California.
| Dramatically confronting Assembly
man Drew, he said:
! IF President Roosevelt should throw
open the doors of this assembly chamber
and laying his hand on your shoulder
| should request for reasons of state that
you would withdraw this bill you Mr.
Draw. patriotic citizen of the United
States, would assent without a murmur.'
This was received with great applause.
Declares President Satisfied.
In reply Mr.. Drew. closing his argu-
ment for the bill, declared that he had
received a letter from the President who
had said that he was not opposed to the
bill amended at his request.
In his opening remarks Mr. Drew said
| that already there were in California
10000 Japanese, most of whom had be-
| longed to the japanese army, who could
be modified at moments nCslce in case
of hostilities.
Mr. Drew said in his speech:
! I'VE must keep Japanese out of this
| country. and we must prevent them from
owning land in California. Only the gov
eminent at Washington has the power to
| keep them away from our shores but 1t
| is for the legislature to say whether or
not they shall own property here.
III is as important Tor California 10
do her part to protect the integrity of
her soil IT is for the national govern
| ment to preserve racial integrity.
| Il touch upon the national phase of the
| question because President Roosevelt has
| asked us not to pass these bills.
Il wish to dispel the Idea that seems
! to have gained wide circulation that my
| bill was the result of union labor agita-
ton When l introduced it two years ago
I never had heard of the Asiatic' EXcu-
sion League. 1t not done for
cial interest but for the, good of the peo
| pie in the state"
Now the Time to Act.
| Mr.. Drew in closing, said: Now is the
time to enact anti-Japanese laws. Japan
| is in no position to strike back. She can
not borrow more money. Don't let us
wait until there are 100000 Japanese on
this coast who will own ~ per cent of
= no a.,d tha1 do in LA wall >,