The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-20
ROOSEVELT
TAKES HAND IN
LEGISLATION
REQUESTS GOVERNOR OF CALI
FoRNIA NOT TO ALLOW ANTI
JAPANESE LEGISLATION TO
PASS UNTIL HE is HEARD
FROM.
By Associated Press.

, sacramento, Cal, jan l9--Ine
Sacramento Union to-day says
President Roosevelt has taken d
hand in the anti-Japanese legislation
now before 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 a telegram sent Satur-
day this request was embodied and
letter is en- route to Sacramento
which will give the chief executives
views and wishes in the matter of
Legislation against the little brown
men"
President RooSevelt's telegram fol-
lows:
Washington, Jan. 16, 1903.
/ "HOn. James y. Gillette, Governor of
California, Sacramento, Cal:
We are greatly concerned at
newspaper reports on anti-Japanese
legislation in Califonia's legislature.
Have written you at length ION the
subject. Earnestly hope that no
progress viii be made on bills until
you have chance to receive my letter
and if necessary to disclose and dis
cuss its contents with leaders of the
two houses. MY knowledge of the
international situation. particularly
with reference to emigration of ia
panese laborers from United States
satisfies that the passage of the
proposed legislation would be of in
calculable damage in state of Cali
fornia as well as to the whole union.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Request Granted.
Governor Gillette sent the follow
ing reply:
Sacramento, Calf, Jan. Is, 1909.
Theodore Roosevelt, President of
the United States, Washington, d.
the United States, Washington, d. c.,
Telegram received, Have caused
bills to be held up until ] can hear
from you. Copies of bills introduced
affecting Japanese legislation with
briefs on some mailed you.
-. n. GILLETTE"
The Drew measure prevents owner
ship of property for more than seven
years by aliens and this measure was
reported out OF committee to-day fay-
Orably and was to have passed
through the assembly. 1t was held
ul until Wednesday when it was
made a special order of business and
according to Governor Gillette will
probably be pOnstpOned still further
when that time arrives. Governor
Gillette said:
Statement by Governor.
i received the message from HTSS-
ident Roosevelt Saturday evening af-
ter dinner and answered after seeing
assemblyman Drew, who agreed to
await the letter from the president.
There is this about the matter
that is not fully understood:
Japan does not look to any state
in the settlement of differences but
the head of the government in
Washington. In this way there is
much known there of which the diff
erent communities and states of the
union are ignorant. For this reason,
as stated by the president he knows
mere relative to existing conditions,
so that his wishes are to be respect
ed"
Previous to receiving the telegram
from President Roosevelt Governor
Gillette received another from Sena-
tor Frank P. Flint, saying that the
president wanted action upon the ia
panese Legislation withheld until ne
could send a communication to the
governor and that this had been for
w5rded last Saturday This tele-
gram was followed in the evening by
that from the president, and the pro
posed japanese legislation will re-
main where IL is until word is receiv-
Ell from the governor along lines as
outlined by President Roosevelt