Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-21
A SURVEY OF THE ALIEN LAND LAW BILL

aDiy DE Japans stand and not unlikely that OF
the federal administration in case Japan pei
ssts in regarding the bill now pending in Cali
f0rnia as violation of her treaty rights with
the United States.
While President Wilson may caution Cali
forna not to violate the provisions of the treaty
it seems quite plain that he is not going to WELD
the big stick in the manner made familiar by
President Roosevelt when he was confronted by
a somewhat similar situation. In fact, condi-
tons have changed since Roosevelt interfered
with CALIFORNIA; legislature. Not only is there
president representing that party which EN-
phasizes states rights but Wilson's personal in
clinations are to put confidence i'm the ability
and intelligence of properly constituted bodies
and officials Furthermore The may well recog
nize the exceedingly strong anti-Asiatic senti-
ment that has been fostered in California by the
Asiatie Exclusion league and the tradesunionsl
and that has grown throughout the farming COM
munities where the perseyering Japanese have
found their way. Even should Wilson call off
the legislature, it is not improbable that enact
ment of the law by the initiative would be pro-
posed and not impossible that this method would
carry, State Senator Sanford, one of the au-
thors of the bill, has telegraphed to Washington
that the sentiment of the people is five to one in
favor of the alien land law and that If the legs
latnre does not enact it, the people will resort to
the Initiative. "A press bureau for the land lawI
movement is in active operation with A. L. Yo-I
eli, a leader in the Asiatic Exclusion league inl
charge Yoell is spreading broadcast SUCH sta
tistics as these: 1sThat there are in California;
$4,000 japanese, 10000 Chinese and 1000 other
Asiatics. The Japanese own 321 farms, contain
ing u Log acres, in thirty counties of the state
the increase is 1000 acres 21S pieces of property
and 100 per cent in valuation. Other purchases
have been recently made, but there are no rec
0rds in nineteen counties.
"The Chinese own 152 acres of land City
property assessed at 100000 is owned by 126I
Chinese In March, 1899, there were 2s2 leases
to Japanese recorded In March, 1912, there,
we're 80 leases recorded for 20294 acres. Thisi
is an increase of 900 acres, with hundreds of
leases unrecorded"
The California legislators insist that the lat
est draft of the proposed law, the substituted
measure now before the legislature, cannot pos
sibly endanger the sacredness of the treaty be-
tween the United States and Japan. The point
has been raised in Honolulu as well as in Japan
and Washington, that to put the law into effect
would amount to confiscation of property. This
is fatty denied in Sacramento Senator Thomp-
son, who was active in drafting the latest meas
nre has issued this statement as to its meaning
ssNothing in the committee substitute for the
Birdsall bill can be construed as affecting the
present holdings of any aliens, regardless of
their right to become citizens
mo confiscation is planned, and the Japan
csc have been misinformed as to our intentions
Land now held by aliens may be retained forever,
for all that this bill is concerned
"The only restrictions are on land to be ac-
Quired hereafter, whether AZ lease or purchase,
Gift, devise or otherwise The bill limits future
leases to three years DURATION and ownership tol
one year. This is regarded as ample time for AM
alien to dispose CT such property without loss
1The rights of any alien to citizenship will,
not affect his status so far as ownership of land
is concerned All aliens will be treated alike
under this act for it has been drawn to apply
equally to Japanese, German or English sub
jects, or the subjects of any other foreign ma
ton $50 -.
The question has been raised here and else
where as to the status of aliens in Japan. Ac-
cording to the latest information. aliens cannot
hold land in Japan now. Although the old laws
of Japan against foreign ownership have beenl
abrogated, the imperial edict necessary to put
in force newly enacted laws has not been pro
mulgated and American citizens cannot own