Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-05-02
OFFERS ADVICE IN
NAME OF WILSON.
Bryan Delivers Message to
California People.
ASKS ACTION Be DELAYED
Tells State Officials and Legislators
They Could Lawfully Keep Land
Rights From Japs, but Would
be Against Chiefs Wishes.

Sacramento, Cal.-California in the
fullness of her right as state
may enact a rigid land law barring
.Orientals from land ownership, but
such action would be against the
earnest wish of the national admins
tration.
This is the substance of the mes
. sage William Jennings Bryan, secre-
tary of state and personal representa-
tive of President Wilson, delivered to
secret conference attended only by
Gov. Johnson, Lieut. Gov. Wallace and
the 120 members of the California leg
islature.
Offers Advice Only.
Those who expected Secretary Bry-
an to eXpound new theory of states
rights were disappointed, as were
those who expected predictions of
war. Advice in the name Of President
Wilson was all Mr.. Bryan had to Of
fer. The paramount question here is
whether such advice will overcome
the previously announced determine
tion of the progressive Republican
majority to enact an anti-alien land
holding law along lines already agreed
upon.
Secretary Bryan reaffirmed the
states right to act in manner it saw
fit, but suggested several alternatives
aliens ineligible to citizenship"
basing his reasons on the broad foun-
dation of public policy. Briefly, these
alternatives in the order in which
they were suggested, are as follows
1. Delay immediate action and al
low the state department to try to
accomplish the ends desired by means
of new treaty with Japan.
2. Delay immediate action and ap-
point commission to investigate the
subject of alien land ownership and
act in conjunction with the president
in securing relief.
g. Enact law similar to the stat
ute in Illinois, which permits aliens
to hold land for period not exceed
ing six years and applies alike to all
aliens.
4. Enact a law similar to the fed
eral statute governing land ownership
in the District of Columbia, which is
a general law applying to all aliens.
OF these alternatives it may safely
be said, according to leaders in the
legislature, that the last two are out
of the question. Many Democrats ia
vor turning the matter over to the
state department, while the progress
siye Republican majority apparently
remains unchanged in it's support of
bill that would apply its restrictions
to Orientals alone.
The conference with Secretary Bry-
| an served to show the breadth of the
| sentiment in favor of an alien land
law effective in checking the Japanese
and Chinese immigration. A dozen or
more senators and assemblymen de-
clared the people of the state were
almost a unit in demanding such a
law.
Makes War Speech in House.
Washington.-A war speech in sup
port of the proposed California anti
alien law was delivered in the house
by Mr.. Sisson of Mississippi.
IF we must have war or submit to
this dignity, / am for war;" cried Mr..
Sisson. II am with the people of Cal.
ifornia in their efforts to prevent
these aliens from acquiring land.
II believe that no nonresident alien
should be allowed to hold single foot
of land in the territory of the United
States. What would Washington say
in answer to the question, war or sub
|
What would Cleveland say? What
would Mckinley say? / resent the eff
forts of Japan to force us to submit
to her demands"
Mr.. Sisson took the position that
the Japanese government in protest
ing against alien land legislation was
endeavoring to exempt its citizens
from the operation of the laws Of
S; ties.
"If Japan now threatens us with
war what would she do when millions
of her citizens have acquired land II
our country?" he asked, II lay dowI
the proposition that an alien popula
tion holding land within our border!
would be a fixed and constant men
ace.
I'VE must preserve to the American
farmer the right to own the soil o
our country without competition
which would drag down his STANDARD
of living. | would not surrender /
unless we had spent the last drop O
blood in American manhood, and i'm
poverished our country for hundre'
generations"