The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-17
Other Foreigners Interested in
Proposed Alien Land Laws
in California.
PROTESTS POURING IN
Government at Toxic Dis
posed to Be Moderate; Will
son Hopes for Best.

SACRAMENTO, Cal, April 16.-Not
the exclusion Of the Japanese farmer,
but the probable effect of the proposed
alien land law on European capital in
vested in the state, is now the princi
pal issue involved in the discussion Of
the bills proposing to restrict the rights
Of foreigners in California, one Of
which was passed yesterday by the as
sembly.
Protest has arisen from representa-
tives of English and continental syndi-
Gates, and a stronger influence than
that represented by the formal COM
plants of the Japanese government is
being brought to bear in an effort to
kill the measures altogether, or to
amend them in such a way as to effect
only the Japanese.
tions controlled by persons eligible to
citizenship to own property, but the
senate bill makes no distinction, which
is in line with the sentiment heretofore
existing against giving offense to Japan
by discriminating In favor of the sub
iects Of any other nation.
Includes All Foreigners.
The senate bill classes all foreign
syndicates and corporations as aliens,
and it is admitted that if the wording
of the act is retained, it will be i'm
possible to exempt Europeans.
Within the past twentyfour hours
scores of letters and kilograms have
been received and a dozen attorneys
and capitalists have made their ap
pearance, all protesting against law
that would be inimical to the present
or future investments Of the banking
syndicates of London, Paris and Berlin.
1t is pointed out that the stocks of
many Of the large corporations Of Cali
fornia are dealt in on the exchanges of
European capitals, and that at a par
ticular time a majority of such stock
might be owned by persons not citizens
of the United States. Under the SEN
ate bill the property owned by such
corporation would be subject to escheat
to the state after one year.
Opposes Assembly Bill.
Senator Thompson, author Of the SEN
ate bill, is convinced that interna-
tional complications can be prevented
only by enacting an impartial law, re
stricting all aliens alike, and for this
reason he is opposed to the assembly
the senate measure prepared by his
committee only in the clause relating
to corporations, and he believed the
senate measure the more restrictive on
Japanese since it provided that ma
iority of the stock Of any corporation
owning California land must be held
by American citizens or those who have
i n
citizens.
Senator Thompson found upon in
vestigation today that the eligibility
of Japanese to citizenship in the
United States had never been carried
to the Supreme Court. In two United
States circuit decisions, the first in
1892 and the second eight years later,
the rights of japanese subjects to citi
zenship are denied on grounds of race.
Both the senate and assembly, bills
are awaiting action in the upper house,
and will not be brought to a vote
until the question Of amending them is
settled in conference.
Feeling in Japan.
TOXIC, April 16.-The most promi-
nent officials, commercial men and
others are urging that no extreme at
titude be adopted in the agitation
against the California alien land bill,
but popular feeling is deepening with
the announcement of the passage of the
bill in the lower house Of tho California
legislature.
The American.Japanese association,
Of which Baron Shibusawa is president
and B. Nakano is vice president, com.
posed Of representatives Of all political
parties, leading tradesmen and profes,
slonal men is actively endeavcring to
defeat the bill but carefully avoiding
stirring up auti-American feeling.
Special speakers, in explaining the
American system of states rights, say
that the United States as whole
is friendly, but California is prejudiced.
vocntes the withdrawal Of Japanese
participation in the Pauama-Pacifc ex-
position and with refusing to buy or
sell through California ports. But this
has been strongly opposed by other
speakers.
Newspaper men have formed an
organization and adopted q resolution
declaring that the laud bill not only is
unjust aud unfair to the Japanese, but
is calculated to impair good will. The
American press is requested to Join in
opposing it.
Wilson Studies Bills.
WASHINGTON, April 16.-President
Wilson canvassed with Secretary Lane of
| the interior department today the sltua-
tlon that has arisen In the latters native
state. California, with regard TO the own
| ership Of land by aliens
The president and Mr. Lane studied
| the two bills now pending before the
California Legislature No comment was
| forthcoming from the White house but II
| Is believed that the measure eventually
passed will not differ from allen land
| of
| Columbia and territories OF the union. For
| this reason there Is little hope enter