The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-05-23
FINAL APPEAL FOR
LAND BILL VETO
Bryan Te|egraphs johnson, Org.
ing Him 10 withhold Signature.
CH|NOA PROTEST ACCOMPANIES

Administration Again Asks That Pro.
posed Legislation BE Deferred-co.
operation of Government In Accom-.
pIishine California Purpose.
Washington, May 12.-The federal
governments final effort to delay alien
land owning legislation in California
was made when Secretary Bryan, in
the name of President Wilson, tele-
graphed Governor Johnson, notifying
him that the Japanese ambassador
had earnestly protested against the
bill passed by the California assembly
Ind urged that the governor postpone
action by withholding his signature.
Secretary Bryan's telegram, which
was framed after a conference with
the president, was as follows:
"The president directs me to ex-
press his appreciation of your courtesy
in delaying action on the land bill now
before you until it's provisions could
be communicated to the Japanese gov
Chinda, on behalf of his government.
mas presented an earnest protest
against the measure. AS you have be-
fore you two alternatives, viz, to
approve or to veto, it will avail moth
ing to recall to your attention the
amendments suggested to the legisla-
ture and as the president has already
laid before you his views upon the
subject it is unnecessary. to reiterate
them.
Passes over Treaty Question.
"He passes over questions affecting
treaty rights for two reasons; first,
because tho bill passed by the legis.
lature is avowedly intended to con.
form to treaty obligations, and, sec
ond, because any conflict complained
Of would be a matter for the courts.
But the president feels justified in ex-
pressing again his desire that action
on the subject be deferred for this ses.
sion and he expresses the desire the
more freely because the legislature
can be reconvened at any time II the
welfare of the state requires it. He is
alive to the Importance of removing
any root Of discord which may create
antagonism between American citizens
and the subjects of Oriental nations
residing here, but he is impelled by a
sense of duty to express the hope that
you will see fit to allow time for dip
lomatic efforts. The nations affected
by the proposed law are friendly ma
tions-nations that have shown them.
selves willing to cooperate in the es-
Enlistment of harmonious relations be.
tween their people and ours.
IF postponement commends itself
to your judgment, the president will
be pleased to cooperate in system
attic effort to discover and correct any
evils that may exist in connection
with landownership by Aliens
Action Follows Conference.
The decision of the administration
to urge Governor Johnson to use his
power to veto to postpone any land
legislation was reached after series
| Of conferences between the president,
Secretary Bryan and John Bassett
Moore, counsellor of the state depart
ment and Ambassador Chinda. It was
realized that any further attempt to
have the bill enacted by the Califor.
mia legislature amended would be
fruitless, since Secretary Bryan's trip
to Sacramento was unavailing and the
legislature is to adjourn tomorrow.
Until Governor Johnson's reply is
received, the government probably
will make no reply to the protest of
Japan further than to acquaint the
ambassador with the fact that every
possible effort has been made to have
action in California delayed pending
a settlement of the problems involved