Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
Measure Already Adopted by
California Senate Awaits
Governors Signature.
Reject WILSON'S ADVICE
BUT RESPECT HIS VIEWS
In Farewell Address Secretary Bryan
Hints at Delayed Enforcement
Through Referendum.

SACRAMENTO. May 3-The land
ownership bill. previously passed by the
senate. was passed by the assembly late
tonight and awaits only the signature
of the governor to become law.
Secretary of State Bryan has issued a
statement declaring that he looks to the
people of the state to express final
judgment through the referendum before
the act shall go into effect.
Mr.. Bryan's statement was made imme-
diately before his departure for Washing
ton. The assembly. which was even then
in the midst of it's debate on the land bill
passed late last night by the senate,
paused for half an hour TO hear him, and
then took up its work of following the
senate's lead.
The procedure in the lower house to-
day was almost identical with that
which the administration leaders in
the senate adopted yesterday. On the
one side the democrats offered substi-
tute resolutions and amendments, all
seeking to delay action. and on the
other side the progressive majority
stood firm in voting down every sug-
gestion.
That the bill would pass tonight was
predicted by both sides. 1t will then
be in the hands Of Gov. Johnson await
ing the signature that shall Ike 1t
law.
Referendum Petition Probable.
Apparently the only contingency that
can arise to prevent the carrying out
of the bills provisions within approx
mately ninety days is the threatened
referendum petition, which would re-
quire 10000 signatures before the law
hn fnr, orIx 6nd ~
an election. The matter could not be
submitted to the people until the fall
OF 1914 delay Of nineteen months
in case the proposed referendum petit
tion gains enough signers.
Early in the session it was intimated
by representatives of the board Of di-
rectors of the Panama Pacific exposi-
ton al San Francisco. in opposing the
bills. that the board might foster a move
ment to invoke the referendum against
any anti-alien law that might be enact
ed. The same attitude has been indi-
Gated by several commercial and trade
bodies in the larger cities. who fear ia
pan will levy reprisals upon California
by aorogating present business relation
ships.
To an open joint session of the two
houses. attended. by the governor. Sec
retary Bryan gave aye renewed eve assurances
attitude of the national administration
toward the peculiar problems of Califor
MIA. transmitting the Presidents latest
criticism of the alien land act passed
hearsing again those objections already
made public.
Senator Gates Makes Reply.
In reply Senator Gates, speaking for
the state. said:
"This legislature appreciates the
honor that has been done to this state
by the visit of the Secretary of State.
We realize that his coming to CO.
American politics. 1t brings the fed
eral government into close touch with
the individual states.
''On the part of the legislature | wish
to express our profound appreciation
and gratitude for the interest taken
by the national government in a prob
lem confronting the state of Califor-
MIA. and to assure the President that.
even tf we may differ with him, We do
1T with the prOfoundest respect for his
opinions and those of the Secretary of
State. And if We feel impelled to de-
part from that advice. we do il with
respect for that advice.
Il propose and desire on the part OF
this legislature TO thank the President
and his Secretary for their assistance.
and ! express the hope that this visit
may be forerunner of further activ-
ity by the national government in as
sisting the states in their work"
Secretary Bryan in his address voiced
the Presidents opinion that the words
eeglble TO citizenship substitute in
the California attorney generals redra IT
OF the alien land measure for the words
ineligible TO citizenship are equally
discriminatory and therefore equally OBJ
Jectionable to Japan.
IL law must be passed he urged that
IL DC limited In its operation 10 two years
In order that meanwhile diplomacy might
so improve the international situation
that re-enactment by the next legisla-
ture would be unnecessary. This sugges-
tion. which had not yet reached the
President. he said. was made ..for the
consideration OF those who have yet TO
act upon the subject"
Secretary Bryan's Farewell.
Secretary Bryan said in part:
AS J am departing this afternoon for
Washington ! deem ii proper tia.
should say final word 10 YOU Nv
coming. at the Presidents request ,non
the mission that brought me was unusual
and vet in the Presidents opinion not
only right in principle but wise in policy
1t was in keeping with his own course
| in appearing IN person &c deliver a mes
sage TO Congress.
II need not recount the experiences
through which We have passed The
legislature. in so far as Ii has acted
has found II Inconsistent with it's view
o1 rs responsibilities to follow the PreSi-
dents advice in the wording of the law
which 1t regards as it's duty to enact.
While shall not attempt to form q
Judgment as to the action OF the assem-
bly, on this subject. l have so fully pre-
sented the Presidents views that / do
not deem a longer stay necessary on
the contrary. | feel that | can be more
useful at Washington when the President
has before him the bill as il reaches the
governor. if il shall finally pass the as
sembly.
Il cannot. however. take my depar-
| ture without giving expression TO my
appreciation of the spirit in which. as
| representative of the President.
have been received and of the
courtesie that have been shown me at
all times.
Pleased With California Spirit.
1 The amity that has characterized
| our intercourse IL in keeping. ! think
\ with the course that should be pur-
sued by those who. acting under a
sense OF responsibility about matters
| in which they Jointly concerned
are unable TO agree upon the means tn
| be employed for reaching the end in
view The President has IMPRESSED