The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-14
CALIFORNIA; DILEMMA.

California appears TO be in good
deal of agitation just now on the Jap
anese question. As we have shown. the
japanese are getting controh OF the
fruit lands in that State either by pur-
chase or lease. at rate that may fairly
Justify feeling of alarm. According
| " the Legislature Of that State is con
sidering a proposition that will prevent
I the holding of realty by aliens. The
! measure is supposed to be directed spe-
officially against the japanese, but. Of
course. it viii be in general terms and
will apply against all aliens, otherwise
the Japanese would have good grounds
for complaint under our treaty of amity
and good will with the japanese En-
pire. AS it is, Japan has protested, and
shows much irritation at the attitude of
California The attitude of that State.
where it says that it will do ms it likes.
without regard TO the sentiments Of any
other State, is an unjustfiablc one;
since if, that attitude should bring on
trouble. California would lose no time
in appealing for National help.
1t would be out of the question, Of
course. for California to pass any law
that would specifically prevent Japan
csc from holding or leasing land in Cali
fornia; but a general law passed for
bidding all aliens that privilege could
not be objected to by Japan any more
than by Great Britain.
But another objection made TO pass
ing the law is that the Japanese would
consider it to be especially directed a
them whether It's terms made it so or
not, and Japan is understood to have
made appropriation of million dollars
for representation at the great canal
exposition two years hence in San Fran
cisco. California does not want TO of
fend Japan so as TO give reason for the
cancellation Of Japanese representation
at the canal exposition, though Japan
csc reports deny any danger Still,
the California legislators that favor
the passage OF the bill deny
ing the right of fee or lease
hold in land in California declare
that they will not bo stopped from
passing the law by reason Of the de. |
Of having Japanese represen-
Iation at San Francisco at the canal
exposition, and they will press the bill
without regard TO it.
1t is ticklish question, however, and
California is much divided upon the
question as to the adwisability Of press.
ng this legislation at this time. Still,
.he rapidity with which the Japanese
are, getting foothold in the owner
ship and leasehold of fruit lands in
California is causing lively anxiety, and
hose who favor the bill declare that
here is no time to lose In passing it IL
desire to protect them
selves against the inroads OF the Jap
,nese to the disadvantage of tbe Cali
,ornians themselves, in the fruit in
lustry.
Appeal 1t appears, has been made by
he Japanese government informally to
President Wilson on this question, and
le declares that he sees no reason for
AS matter of fact, there
5 no reason, although if President
Roosevelt were President he would un-
ioubtedly swing the "'big stick over
he California Legislature precisely as
le swung il over the San Francisco
chool board in his absurd interfereucs ;
With the school regulations of that city.
t is pleasant to see that President Will
on is not disposed TO stretch his powers
nd to interfere where he has no busi- 4;
less TO interfere; and this departure
rom the Roosevelt precedent VIII be I
By the country as return