The Washington herald., 1909-02-04

Sacramento. Cal. Feb. a-The assem-
bly,. late this afternoon. by a vote Of 4s
TO q. rejected the Dew anti-alien bill
which prohibited foreigners from owning
land in California.
This decisive vote sounds the death
kneI Of all anti-Japanese legislation at
this session Of the legislature. The sen
ate already has gone on record in the re-
port OF the committee which declared
against the passage OF any bill aimed at
the japanese
There was a large audience IN the as
semoly this morning TO hear the debate
on the japanese bill
Mr. Drew, OF Fresno. the author OF the
anti-alien bin. made q strong speech in
advocacy OF his measure. He declared the
President was not opposed 10 his bin. as
it was now amended, and ne was 50 in
formed in q letter from the President re-
ceived to-day He added:
We must keep the japanese out OF this
country. and We must prevent them from
owing land in California Only the gov
ernment at Washington has the power
TO keep them away from our shores. but
1t is for the legislature TO say whether OF
not they shall oEn property here.
I wish to dispel the idea that seems
TO have gained wide circulation that my
bill was the result Of union labor agita-
ton. When I introduced it two years
ago had never heard OF the Asiatic Ex-
cIusion League It was not done for any
special interest. but for the good Of al
the people Of the State"
Business Men Oppose.
Mr. Drew quoted from letters recsived
from Hawaii and Canada showing la1za
Increase in numbers & Japsnsse thsrs.
and continued.
Who Is opposing this measure in Cali
fornia2 First. the commercial interests.
including the chamber OF commerce oS
our two largest cities. san Francisco and
Los Angeles. Some OF those interests are
large employers OF japanese labor.
''In case the necessity arose, japan
could raise in California an army OF 800
OF her own subjects most OF whom have
served IN her army"
rose, who declared that the bin would
drive out s100,OOo.eo0 Of foreign capital in
san Francisco and \ large sum through
out the Stste He declared the japanese
we're necessary 20 the fruit growers, as
without their aid II would be impossibls
70 gather crops. He produced statistics
showing there were not more than sew
enty-f1Te japanese land owners II al
California.
WOuld EstranEe Capital
Probably the argument thai had the
most weight with the lawmakers was
that the bill would not only drive out al
the japanese capital. but also all other
foreign capital II is estimated that hun
dreds OF millions OF such capital IS in
vested IN mining and other enterprises
in the State, and the withdrawal OF this
capital would put back the Development
Of the state forty years. IL was stated
When the vote began, intense interest
was shown Ths>result was greeted with
applause
The vote in the assembly to-day against
the aati-alIen bill was almost a foregoue
conclusion because Of the attitude Of Gov.
Gillett and his influence over the coun-
try members. Aside from his own col
leagues IN Fresno County. Mr. Drew had
only the San Francisco members 10 de-
pend upon and those from Sacramento.
The san Francisco aSsemblyTnea were al
Influenced By the labor union arguments
Gov. Gillet said. before the decisive
vote was reached to-day:
There Is no question IN ny mind that
We are making ourselves ridiculous BY
anti-Japanese legislation At this tine.
And we are certainly making ourselves
unpopular with the other States OF the
Union One can hardly pick up an
Eastern newspene- -e--'---- -,
seeing some RET
beginning 70 te
tent attack Of
Cheap = sltea 20 Eas
''Anti-Japsne fo- -a
est -
dice the res ..,,....,.-, ssztfrsr ~