Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-29

such action would be against the earn
 est wish of the national administra
 tion. This is the substance of tht
 message William Jennings Bryan, sec
 retary of state and personal repre-
 sentative of President Wilson, deliv-
 cred today to a secret conference at
 tended only by Governor Johnson
 Lieutenant Governor Wallace and the
 12O members of the California legis-
 1ature.
 Conference Behind Closed Doors.
 Secretary Bryan arrived in Sacra- :
 mento at six o'clock this morning.
 With his consent plans were laid for
 an immediate hearing and shortly af-
 ter II o'clock the first. session of the
 conference began. Until the doors
 of the assembly chamber were closed
 and locked, Secretary Bryan refused
 to give any ink1ing of his message to anyone and even at the conference he spoke only after legislators had ex- plained fully the public demand for alien land legislation that brought about the present situation.
 Those who expected Secretary Bry- an to eXpound a new theory of states rights were disappointed, as were those who expected predictions of war. Ad- vice in the name of President Wilson was all MT. Bryan had to offer and the paramount question here tonight is whether such advice will overcome the previously announced determination of the progressive majority to enact an
 
 already agreed upon
 Four Alternatives Suggested.
 Secretary Bryan re-affirmed the states right to act in a manner it saw fit, but suggested several alternatives to the passage of 9 bill restricting aliens Ineligible to citizenship-p bas- ing his reasons on the broad founda- ton of public policy. Briefly, these alternatives in the order in which they were suggested. are as follows
 Delay immediate action and a1- low the state department to try to ac- eomp1ish the ends desired by means of new treaty with Japan.
 2-Delay immediate action and aD- point a commission to investigate the subject of alien land ownership and act in conjunction with the president in securing relief
 3-Enact law similar 10 the stitute Tn Illinois which permits aliens ito hold land for a period not exceeding six years and applies alike to all aliens.
 4-Enact a law similar to the fed era1 statute governing land ownership in the District of Columbia, which Is general law applying to all aliens.
 People Almost Unit for Law.
 Of these alternatives. it may be safely said according to leaders fn the legislature that the last two are out of the question. Many democrats favor turning the matter over to the state department, while the progress sive republicans majority apparently unchanged in it's support of \ a bill that would apply its restrictions to Orientals
 The conference with Secretary Brv- an served to show the brea dth of the l sentiment in favor of an alien land law that shall be effective in check l ing the Japa1rese and Chinese immi- grafton. dozen or more senators and asseTnblymen declared the people 1 If WIZ al lIr75f SV1l demandinP such 3 law and it was | that unless the legislature act at this time the matter would be | taken I'D through the initiative and | passed by the people themselves.
 Senator Boynton Explains Situation. request of President Wilson," said MT. Bryan. "to consult with the governor and the members of the legislature on 1 the pending land legislation. am more interested in the methods to be employed than in the end to be at aimed and l would be pleased to hear suggestions from any of you before speaking further.'' 1oor leader, thanked MT. Bryan on ,ehalf of the legislature for the visit 7e then outlined the situation for the risitor, saying in part:
 At the time President Wilson's tel gram was received last week, an- bouncing the wish to send Secretary 'f State Bryan to confer with this | egislature, there were two bills on his subject before the senate
 Tt was apparent that the people f the state were strongly fin favor of he enactment of an alien land law and uch a law probably would have been assed before this time if it had not { een for the telegram from the pres ' dent. At his request we postponed ] urther consideration of the matter | nti1 MT. Bryan could present his feWs1 z
 Bryan Urged te Give Reasons. Senator Boynton then requested MT. 'rNan to point out specifically state { lent and of Japan to the pending t leasures and to give his reasons from ' diplomatic standpoint why Califor- Y Ia should not enact such a law. When ] len1bers of the majority party urged f i'm to comply with the request. Sen tor Caminetti,. democrat, suggested t lat a small group of members from i ,th houses be selected te hear MT. e ryan's arguments. but Boynten pro- f sted and carried his point, After S .verai others had spoken many of lem quoting statistics to show the v crease in land holdings by Japanese o lring recent years, Secretary Bryan 0 ose, t
 Mir. Bryan's Response. It "As the representative of the pres- ent," he began, NI feel keeniy the l x sponsibflity that is placed upon me, II would have preferred to have him o me hinsef. as the head of the na- U ,n, but that seemed impossible and s delegated me to speak for him. I IT not pretend to do other than ex- u ess his views, I am simply his al okesmaH, and I will say to you only n at which he would have me say. As to the eonstitutiena1ity eS our ,aty with Japan, you will pardon if I decline to act as the supreme 1 D 1rt- Further, as ts the question of I think we can consider It question as Independent of--the