Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-27
urging that no action be taken on the
japanese bills, Gov. Gillett said:

urging that no action be taken on the
Japanese bills. Gov. Gllett said
There Is certain legislation now pend
ing before you which l believe to be OF
grave concern. not only to our state. but
to the nation as we'll, and which should be
most thoughtfully considered before II IS
acted upon.
Certain bills have been introduced.
some of which have been favorably re-
ported by your committee. indirectly In
tended to affect the japanese people-at
least such is the impression abroad. These
bills have attracted the notice or 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 through
out Japan. and the Japanese minister OF
foreign affairs has stated to the author
flies at Washington that If the bills
should be passed the government of ia
pan would consider it very embarrassing.
The governor then reviews what has
been done by the governments of the
United States and Japan. resulting in
compact for the restriction OF 1mmlgra-
ton, the provisions of which, he says, ia
nan is now carrying out Figures are
here given showing Il decrease In the I'M
migration of Japanese. and the governor
says he knows of nothing to sustain the
assertion that the Japanese population or
California is increasing. The message con-
tinues:
Jdpdu 1IlcuuSAlp OCoAA ooiS.
To-day the relations between the United
States and Japan arc very friendly. Both
are great powers among the nations OF
the world. Both stand in position,
geographically, to dominate and control
the commerce of the Pacific. Acting to-
gether they can dictate the policies which
other nations must pursue in the far
east and can preserve the trade there. AS
friendly allies. many benefits Will lnure
TO both nations, and great commerce
be carried on between them to the
advantage of our people: but as enemies,
the commerce of both can be driven from
the ocean. Every reason, therefore, exists
why there should continue between Japan
and our government the most friendly re-
lations, and it is the expressed wish or
each nation that this shall be so.
"If the agreement already made does
not go far enough. that is. if classes other
than those enumerated herein should nave
been included, then our government should
make that fact known to Japan and ask
to have them included, and present it's
reasons therefor. If such reasons are
good and sufficient. then. In all fairness,
and with a desire to do what Is right,
Japan will. no doubt consent to the re-
quest made
The governor says that the question OF
immigration is one for the federal gov
eminent alone to settle.
If it is found that Japanese coolies con-
tinue to pour into the state, says the gov
ernOr. leasing ard purchasing agricultural
lands and changing white settlements to
Japanese to the detriment of the state
and Its citizens, then 1t Is the plain duty
TO call the attention of the government
to the situation, that prompt action be
taken in the matter.
Congress Alone Has Power
while the settlement of the questions
of immigration are pending" he con-
passing any legislation not absolutely nee
essary for our immediate protection. in
tended solely to affect the japanese peo-
pie being lawfully among us. because in
so doing we make the task which we eX-
pect our government to perform harder
to achieve We must remember that no
law that this state can enact will stop
japanese immigration. Congress alone is
vested with authority to pass such legis-
lation, and We must also recognize the
fact that the japanese among us are the
subjects OF a friendly nation and are en-
Titled to the same treatment under our
laws and to the same privileges and i'm
mun1ties as are guaranteed to the SUBJ
jects of the most favored nations"
Discussing the pending bill, the gov
efnor says he sees no reason for barring
aliens from becoming directors of cor
porations. and If such are to be dis
couraged from investing and are not to
De permitted to own land in the state,
the law making such proposition should
AFFECT the subjects of all nations alike
What we want is to have the question
or immigration settled amicably and set
tied right" says the governor, and con-
tinues:
THE President of the United States and
the Secretary of State have issued a
warning against pressing any bills of the
nature proposed. Their warning should
be needed. This matter is one in which
the whole country is interested.
State Cannot Check immigration.
THE passage of all or any of the pro-
posed bills will not prevent a single
japanese from landing here or cause one
to leave the country. They will in no
sense check immigration or change the
Japanese way of doing business or his
manner of living.
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-
Our efforts should be made through
the proper channels and we should pre-
pare statement of facts to support any
petition We may present.
II would therefore recommend that a
sufficient appropriation be made to en-
able the state to take census showing
the number of Japanese now in the
state. the number classed as laborers
and those classed agriculturistS. the
number of acres of land owned by Japan.
csc, and the number of acres leased. and
to get such other and further informa
ton as may be useful in making a proper
report to the President of the United
States and to Congress. With such q
census We can ascertain hereafter whether
or not the Japanese population of this
state Is increasing or decreasing. anC
whether or not they are extending theil