New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-15
johnson PLEADS
| FEDERAL SANCTION
| IN REFUSING VETO
It Was United States Which De-
fined What Aliens Should
Be Excluded, Asserts
Governor.
HAS ONLY ADAPTED LESSON
If Discrimination There Be,
It Is Against California, as
Neighbors Have Enacted
Same Laws With :
out Protest.
"BOUNDEN DUTY" TO SIGN
Measure Respects Treaty and Can
Give Japan No Cause for Of
fence, Declares Executive
in Reply to Secretary
Bryan's Appeal.
"BOUNDEN DUTY" TO SIGN
tBy Telegraph TO The Tribune

tBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune
Sacramento, Cal, May 14.--If ''invid-
ious discrimination" were ever made
against Far East peoples the United
States made it when the nation de-
clared who were and who were not
eligible to citizenship, says Governor
Johnson in the reply he sent to Wash
ington to-day informing Secretary
Bryan of the State Department he in
tended TO sign the anti-alien land bill
Governor johnson calls attention TO
the immigration law now pending
which passed both houses Of the last
Congress, and in which classes to be sx-
cIuded are described as persons who
cannot become eligible under existinS
laws to become citizens of the United
States" This language whom ineor-
porated in the Webb Boodaood bill ID
that which is termed offensive and dis
criminatory, says the Governor.
The constitution Of California is cited
by Governor Johnson as expressive OF,
popular sentiment in favor of exclu-
sion thirty years ago, and he asserts
that the danger remains a momentous,
issue TO the present day. California. he
| asserts, is doing only its "bcunGeH
duty" to its citizens.
Denies Cause for offence.
The bill violates no treaty rights and
can give no just cause for offence.
Governor Johnson stoutly affirms. At
least three other states have enacted
laws similar to the Webb Bloodgood
bill without protest. II discrimination
exists, says the Governor, it is dis.
elimination against California.
The text of the Governors message
to Secretary Bryan is as follows:
Hon. William ]. Bryan, Secretary OF
State, Washington.
Your very courteous telegram relat-
ting to the alien land bill react me
late Sunday night. l take IL 'ur
conversations and your requesl made
to me TO withhold executive action
unsn opportunity had been accorded for
the presentations from the federal gov
ernment that your message embodles
what Il was your wish and the wish Of
the President to say TO us before final
action.
I'm this response il is ny design
most respectfully to present the situa-
ton from our standpoint and the views
that actuated our Legislature in pass
ing the bill and that impel me TO sane
tion ii.
"For many years very grave prob
lem, Iittle understood in the East, has
confronted California, a problem the
seriousness of which has been rseos-
nized by statesmen in our nation, and
has been viewed with apprehension by
the people Of this state. Whom the
present constitution of Californis was
adopted, more than thirty years ago, it
contained the following declaration:
"The presence of foreigners in
eIiqihIe to become citizens OF the
United States is declared to be
dangerous to the weiIbeing Of the
state. and the Legislature shall
discourage their immigration by all
means within its power
"Of late years our problen, from an.
other angle has become acute, and the
agitation has been continuous in the
last decade in reference to our agri.
cultural lands until finally affirmative
action in an attempted solution be-
came imperative. This attempted solu-
ton is found in tho action Of our lsgis.
Iature in the passage Of the alien land
bill.
"ImperativeIy Demanded"
"In the plraseo,oey Of this bill, IN
those whom il affects. in its scope and
in it's purpose. we believe we arc win.
IN our legal and our moral rights ana
that we are doing only what is irnpsra'
lively demanded for the protection sno
preservation Of our state.
an this enactment we have kept ever
in mind our national good faith, ae
evidenced by existing treaties, and our
desire and anxiety have been to act
only in such fashion as would COM
r.nd us to our sister states and would
Justify us to our fellow eountrymen.
THE objections to our bill are based.
first. upon the treaty obligations OF the
nation. and. secondly. upon the asser-
ton that our act is offensive and dis
crimnatory. The protest to our meas
ure. as your telegram states. comes
from the representative Of Japan
THE bill that is low before me pro-
vides substantially in its first section
that all aliens eligible 10 citizenship
under the laws OF the United States
may acquire real property in the same