The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-05-07
GOLDEN STATE
LAND MEASURE
Objectionable to Japanese
Government.
AMBASSADOR FILES PROTEST
United States Is Held To Be
Responsible for CalifOr.
mia Matter.
THE JAPS ARE DISAPPOINTED

Sacramento. Cal, May 5.-Jajan
has cabled instructions to it's Am
bassador at Washington, Baron
Chinda, to make formal protest
against the alien land bill enacted
by the California Legislature and
now awaiting the signature of Gov
ernor Johnson.
This was the word sent here to-
day from San Francisco, following
the receipt of Tokyo cablegram
by a japanese daily newspaper
there.
The message adds that the po-
sition taken by the Japanese Gov
eminent is that the United States
government is Responsible for the
finding of satisfactory solution of
the situation in California under it's
treaty obligations to Japan.
Describing the receipt of the
news from Sacramento last night
that the bill had passed both
Houses of the Legislature, the mes
sage says:
when the Japanese people re-
ceived the report that the alien
land bill had passed the California
Legislature, all the people were
deeply disappointed.
The act, which passed both
Houses of the Legislature within "a
hours. after bringing about one of
the most unusual situations in the
history of the nation, will lie on
Governor Johnson's desk without
his signature until Secretary of
State Bryan can confer with Presi-
dent Wilson in Washington.
This will mean a delay of nearly
week. as Secretary Bryan left
here last evening and will not reach
the national capital until Wednes-
day night or Thursday morning.
Governor Johnson will wait, as
he says. reasonable time" for
whatever protests the Government
may make, after which he will sign
the bill He is required by law to
sign or veto all acts passed up to
him by the Legislature within 10
days Of final passage, provided the
enacting body remains in session
for that length of time. Otherwise
he has 80 days.
1t appeared tonight that the
Legislature would not adjourn I'M
til May Is or later. which would
require the Governor to act on or
before Tuesday, May IS.
There is much speculation here
as to the next probable step to he
taken by the Government against
the measure. 1t is generally
thought. however, that President
Wilson will state his objections
once more to Governor Johnson and
then seek through diplomacy to an
swer the protests from Tokyo.
Opinion as to the effectiveness of
the act in accomplishing its pur-
pose. the elimination of the Japan
csc farmer. Is divided. Until the
final amendment was adopted per-
hitting aliens ineligible to citizen
ship to lease agricultural lands for
three years. the measure was the
most drastic of any that had been
proposed.
Now, however. II is asserted by
many that it will accomplish little.
inasmuch as II does not stipulate
that the leases may not be renew
ed again and again.
Governor Johnson and the Pro-
gressives regard the measure as
necessary first step in accomplish
ing what they believe to be the de-
sire of the people of the State.
This act establishes the policy
OF the State toward alien landhold-
ers." was their answer to those who
asked for more rigid law.
Two years or four years hence
n will be an easy matter to strike
out the leasing clause II the public
demands IT, But just now 1t would
work hardship on scores OF cit
izen landowners"
willing 10 Believe Anything.