The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-05
LAND LAW PASSES
BOTH California
/ HOUSES IN A 0AI
Bill Carries Right to Lease
Land for Not More Than
Three Years
GOVERNOR WAITING
ON THE PRESIDENT
Says He viii Give Him Rea-
sonable Time to Enter
Amy Objections Be-
fore Signing 1t

SACRAMENTO, May with the
passage last night three-quarters OF
an hour before midnight OF the alien
land bill by the assembly, the Cali.
fornia State administration gave thu
finishing touch to its defiance of Preai~
dent Wilson and his suggestions. The
Webb Birdsall bill, which permits lea1.
Ing land to aliens for three years, waM
the measure finally adopted afta4
over three hours debate.
The unusual procedure Of bill
passing the senate and being read
three times in the assembly in the
same day was carried out 1t necez-
STATED the suspension of the Califop~
MIA constitution to accomplish the
feat, but it was done under the whip,
The bill, 1t is admitted, will allow
the occupation of land by Japanese
under the three-year lease provision
for an unlimited time. by transferring
leases every three years.
Bradford Defends Bill.
Assembiyman Bradford. author Of
the first alien land bill, to pass either
house of this legislature, defended
the leasing of land To the Japaneee.
although he opposed ownership by
them. That was the one bone OF con-
tention in the entire fight, and by the
vote last night leasing of agricultural
lands by Japanese is given the stamp
of approval.
The bill finally passed by 72 to ..
most of the Democrats and Repuh-
licans voting for il under a previous
agreement
The governor has telegraphed
verified copy of the bill to Presi-
dent Wilson. and he will not sign
it for the present.
Waiting on President.
Governor johnson said today:
Il have promised President wilson
and Secretary Bryan / would gruuk
them reasonable time in which TN
offer whatever objections they u1msk
what he regarded as '.reasonah1o
time s
Governor johnson declared that h
rejoiced over the passage OF the bfa
as an administration victory. He said
today:
We have accomplished the biz
thing. We have prevented the Japa-s
nese from driving the root of their civ
ilization deep into California's soil.
There hasn't been an, inch OF rec0e-
sion by the senate or the adminfatTn~s
ton on alien legislation. The three
year leasing clause, which has 6NGII
included; was done in the interests AZ
our own people, to give them time 10
adjust their affairs and themselves to
The big Thing Is Done.
THE big thing California set out to
do has been done. without swervfnR.
and | resent the imputation that thero
has been a backing down. or a trim
ming with the situation because OF
any influence whatsoever. In all
presentations made by President Will
son, and of secretary of State Bryan
on the alien situation not one word
not one line has been uttered Or
written concerning the leases of lands.
The attitude of the national adniffta-
tration was not made known at al
on that phase of the question.
Every bill that has heretofore been
introduced on this subject has cons
tained leasing provisions OF from one
to fifteen years For the first timA
California is standing firm for what =
our right and we mean to have it"
Bryan IL silent.
liam J. Bryan passed through Los An-5
geles today from Sacramento. ON the
way back to Washington.
fornia in the interest of the opposition
successful
Il cannot answer that question" he
replied. Look for yourself. then am
swer your own question, the fruits
Do you mink tnere Will De WAT
between the United States and JapanYs
To this Mr.. Bryan made no answer.
He praised his Texas onion ranch. ana
Lincoln. Nebraska.
While Bryan was standing In the
waiting room stylishly dressed young
man pushed his wa ythrough.
Hello. there WILL" Bryan exclaimed
embracing the young man, his son, VIII
liam j.. Jrs. an attorney of Tucson,
Ark. who. with his wife and two chil~
dren. had come to Los Angeles to meet
Mr.. Bryan and ride back across tho
desert with him.
Where's Helene" the elder Bryan in-
quired. sNg
she and the children are in the waiAess
ing room 'AE a7, III
Bryan hurried into the next ROOM
He gathered the little granddaughtefo
in his arms and kissed each Of them 4
several times, while the proud youn4