East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-05-01
BDan's Influence Felt in Leglsla-
ture-WiIson Declares New Bill
is Still Discriminatory.
ACTION SURE TOMORROW
Progressives Hesitate to Use "Steam-
roller" Methods When Delay Is
Askcd-If Bill Passes, japanese
Ambassador VIII File PrOtest-Su-
preme Court May Decide.


Sacramento, May 1.-The private
Influence of Bryan was exerted upon
democratic members of the state sem
ate and proved potent enough to again
delay final action upon the Webb
substitute for the Birdsall anti-alien
land bill.
The final word of the senate will
be spoken when the roll Is called to-
morrow. Hesitation on the part of
the progressive majority to use the
''steamroller," enabled the democrats
to stave off for another "a hours CAL
ifornia's decision.
1t is known that Bryan has had pri-
Vate conferences with those senator's
who fought for a delay and the i'm
preston was general that their real
object was to extend the time so that
further pressure might be brought to
bear from Washington.
The first example of this pressure
arrived little ahead of time when
Johnson received from President Will
son a message conveying a threat that
the Webb bill, IL passed, would be ta-
ken before the United States supreme
court. Johnson's reply was courteous
but non-comittal The bill is sched-
uled to come up at IL tomorrow.
Delay Is Last One.
1t was stated on the floor that the
delay until tomorrow Is the last that
Will be granted and that the senate
then will act on the Webb bill and
that the California administration will
be prepared TO meet with the results
that will follow.
Washington, May 1.-The alien
land bill submitted by Attorney Cen
eral Webb OF California and adopted
by the senate of that state as an
amendment to the Birdsall bill, Is
still discriminatory and violates the
terms of the treaty between the Unit
ed States and Japan, in the opinion
of President Wilson and his advisers.
II is understood that as soon as the
bill Is passed. Viscount Chinda. the
japanese ambassador, will file for
nal protest with the state department.
1t Is expected he will suggest that the
quickest way to secure results Is to
bring action in the federal courts TO
test the constitutionality of the bill.
All negotiations so far between Chin
da and government officials have
been of a most friendly character.
President Wilson believes Japan will
fight her battles in the courts and
not otherwise.
Sacramento. May with Bryan
looking on, the senate of the Callfor-
MIA legislature about noon today eN-
pected to pass the anti-alien bill so
drastic as to terminate imediately all
leasing of agricultural lands by Jap
anese and other aliens ineligible to
citizenship. and which Is so framed
that within generation the last ASIA
tic landholder in California Will nave
passed. Early today Bryan returned
from his trip to san Francisco. Bry-
an is the guest of Governor Johnson
IL Most Drastic.
II was not until the legislators had
had n full day to digest the Weop
substitute for the Birdsall bill, when
Is almost certain to pass, that they
realized that it is by far the most
drastic of any measure yet offered
Nv its provisions purchase or owner
shin of land for agricultural purposes
bv any alien who is not eligible to
citizenship under the federal treaty
is absolutely prohibited.
Before the senate convened, GOV
ernor Johnson explained the whole
keynote of the Webb bill rests upon
the federal doctrine that the Japan
ese and Chinese are not eligible to
citizenship in the United States.