Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-24

California of all other states has always
been singled out for opposition when
she contemplated the passage Of anti
alien legislation, and declaring that the
nation and not the state has drawn the
line against those ineligible to citizen
ship, Governor Hiram w. Johnson to-
day issued statement in which he
fully sets forth his personal views of
the situation.
The Governors Statement
"The suggestion of the president
that the secretary of state visit Califor-
MIA for conference on the pending land
bills was at once accepted by both
houses of the legislature and by the
governor, and we will be glad to well
come Mr.. Bryan on his arrival. While
the legislature very properly maintain
ed the right of the state to legislate on
a matter clearly within its jurisdiction,
am sure there is no disposition to en-
-croach on the international functions
of the federal government or justly to
wound the sensibilities Of any nation.
Protests Against It.
"My protest has been against the
discrimination to which California has
been subjected in the assumption that
action which has been accepted without
demur when taken by other states and
by the nation is offensive if even dis
cussed by California.
''I am not predicting that the Cali
fornia legislature will take any action
on this subject, nor, if it does, fore
casting the terms of any law which
may be enacted. am merely defend.
ing the right of California to consider
and, if its legislators deem advisable
to enact a law which is clearly within
both its legal power and its moral right
"Much has been said of the dignity
of Japan. We would not willingly af'
front the dignity Of Japan, nor offend
its pride. But what shall be said Of the
proposition that a great state, itself an
empire of possibilities greater than
those of most nations, shall be halted
from the mere consideration of legis
lative act, admittedly within its juris
diction, by the protest Of d foreign
power which has itself enacted ever
more stringent regulations on the samC
subject What of the dignity Of Cali
formal
State Has the Right.
Admittedly, California has a right
to pass an alien land law, No one sug
gests that such bill should in terms
describe the japanese. 1t has been sug
gested that such law in California
shall follow the distinctions which ar,
already an unprotected part of the Law
and policy of the United States. Th
United States has determined who ar
eligible to citizenship. The nation ha
solemnly decreed that certain races
among whom are the Japanese, are no
eligible to citizenship. The line ha
been drawn, not by California, but b.
the United States Discrimination, |
it ever occurred, came and went whel
the nation declared who were and VIII
were not eligible to citizenship. ]
California follows the line marked on
by the federal government, the Unite
States and not California should be az
.cused Of discriminating
Washington Has Some Law.
'tThe constitution Of California
since 1879, has said that "the presenc
of foreigners, ineligible to become cit
zens of the United States, is declare
to be dangerous to the well being Q
the state and the Legislature shall dii
courage their immigration by all mean
within its power" The alien land la
of the state Of Washington provide
that "any alien, except such as by tn
laws of the United States are incapab
of becoming citizens of the Unite
States, may acquire and hold land
real property, etc" "
No protest was made against Il
policy of the laws of the United Stat
nor against its adoption into the Law
of Washington and Arizona. II Il
legislature Of California were to dete
mine on similar action 1t would
merely following the declaration Of o,
constitution, the policy Of the Unit