Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-29
Representative From Mis-
sissippi Would Not Per-
NIT Aliens to Hold Land
When Non-Residents.
WOULD PROTECT
RIGHT OF STATE
Holds That California Has
a right to Make Such
Laws as do Not Conflict
with Nation.

Washington, ID. G., April 2s.-A war
speech" in support OF the proposed
California anti-aliens land law was de-
livered in the house today by Repre-
sentative Sisson Of Mississippi.
If we must have war or submit to
this indignity I am for war;" cried Mr..
Sisson. II am with the people Of Cali
fornia in their efforts to prevent their
aliens from acquiring land"
II believe" said Mr. Sisson, that
no non-resident alien should be allow
ed to hold single foot of land in the
territory of the United States. What
would Washington say in answer to
the question, war or submission? What
would Jackson say? What would
Cleveland say? What would Mckinley
say?
Il resent the effort OF japan to force
us to submit to her demands"
Mr.. Sisson took the position that the
Japanese government in protesting
against alien land legislation, was en-
deavoring to exempt It's citizens from
the operation Of the laws OF states.
The president and secretary Of
state" said Mr.. Sisson, Should only
assure an alien government that the
people OF the alien nation would be
dealt with fairly in accordance with
the law OF the state Any other posi-
tion would lead to the federal govern
meht taking out from under the laws
OF the states the citizens OF another
state. But all citizens or aliens resi-
dent in the state must be held subject
to its laws and to exempt the alien
would give him privileges over and
above those accorded to American
citizens"
Mann Interrupts Sisson.
Representative Mann, the republican
leader, suggested the United States
had the constitutional right to treat
with foreign powers to secure for
American citizens property rights
abroad and that Mr.. SissOn was con-
tending that the foreign government
did not have similar right.
pie Of California had the right to pass
such laws regarding alien holding OF
land as in their Judgment seemed
best, when such laws did not infringe
upon the federal constitution.
Sisson discussed at lengths points of
international law involved in the dis
pute and declared that California was
endeavoring to do only what Japanese
has already done.
Holds Aliens as Menace.
III Japan now threatens us with
war what would she do when millions
of her citizens have acquired land in
our country he said. II lay down
the proposition that an alien popula.
tion holding land within our borders
would be fixed and constant menace.
eve must preserve to the American
farmer the right to own the soil of our
country without competition which
would drag down his standard of liv.
ing. would not surrender 1t unless
we had spent the last drop Of blood In
American manhood and impoverished
our country for a hundred genera
tions:''
State Should Have Power.
Treaty making can never deprive
the states of q reserved power" con-
tinued Sisson. "This California Ques-
ton is far reaching and important, in
It's results. Nearly all of the states
have statutes regulating the rights OF
aliens in reference to acquiring real
estate. Nearly every state has some
"This democratic administration
should announce with no uncertain
tone to the world the doctrine that
congress proposes to recognize the
rights of the people Of these states
to determine who shall own the land
within the state and that the United
States government will not prevent
the states from making such land
laws as they see At and proper, pro-
vided they do not discriminate
against citizens OF the United States.
"If the president and senate should
commit themselves to any other prop
osition we will have internal broils
and envious international complica-
tions and intermeddling into our do
nestle concerns occasioned by the
constant complaints of the alien land
owner to his own government
II accord to Japan all the equal
rights with ourselves. would az
quickly resent q demand from our
upon Japan to permit
an American citizen to own land in
Japan contrary to the laws of Japan
as do now resent Japan's effort to
compel us to submit to her demand.
| think it the duty Of every loyal
citizen Of all our states to stand for
California and her rights in this fight
for her own citizens and their de-
ncandapts y