Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1913-05-02
MR. BRYAN SUBMITS
FOUR ALTERNATIVES
PASSAGE OF ANTLALiEN LAND
BILLS DISCUSSED ~ sEcRE-
TARY OF STATE,
DELAY FOR TREATY, ASKED
Second, Asks Inquiry and Co-opera-
ton With President, and Third
and Fourth Asks Moderate
Measures.

Sacramento, Cal, April 30.-A day
Of conference between Secretary of
State Bryan and Governor Johnson
and the members of the California
legislature over proposed 1a~nti-alien
laws ended with the conference ad-
journed to await replies to messages
sent to Washington last night by Mr..
Bryan. >:
Sentiment 10 Unchanged.
The impression prevailed here,
when the conference adjourned, that
the resolve of the majority leaders.
previously announced, to enact a bill
specifically debarring aliens ineligi-
BILE to citizenship" from owning land
in California remained unchanged, al
though Mr.. Bryan, as the personal
representative of President Wilson,
advised strongly against such action.
Governor Johnson indicated this in
a brief, intense address to the con
ference. He declared California's
right to follow the lead of other states
in framing the land bill was unques-
tionable and said such action now
seemed assured.
johnson States Position.
Stating his position to the. confer
ence, Governor Johnson said, in part:
The bill proposed for passage by
the California legislature can call
forth no just criticism from the ma
tional administration nor from any
foreign nation. Here in California it
is not a question of whether the Jap
anese government takes offense at
what we do, but whether we give that
government just cause for offense. I
do not believe that the proposed law
prohibiting land ownership by aliens
who are ineligible to citizenship gives
the Japanese Just cause for taking
offense.
IF their dignity is threatened, they
should have protested when Wash
ington and Arizona passed laws SINH
bar to that which we now propose to
pass"
Secretary Bryan reafirmed the
states right to act in a manner it
saw fit, but suggested several alter
natives to the passage of a bill re-
stricting aliens Ineligible to citizen
ship" basing his reason on the broad
foundation Of public policy. Briefly,
these alternatives in the order in
which they were suggested are as fol.
lows:
The Suggested Alternatives.
delay immediate action n
allow the state department to try
to accomplish the ends desired by
MAINS Of u nnuy frnafu with Vonon
Delay immediate action and
appoint a commission to investi-
gate the subject of alien land own.
ership and act in conjunction
with the president in securing re-
lief.
3.-Enact a law similar to the
statute in Illinois, which permits
aliens to hold land for a period
, not exceeding six years and ap-
, plies alike to all aliens.
4.-Enact a law similar to the
federal statute governing land
. ownership in the District of Co
!, lumbia, which is a general law arp
= plying to all aliens.
: OF these alternatives, it may safe
= ly be said, according to leaders i
. the legislature, that the last two ar
out of the question. Many Democrat
> favor turning the matter over to tn
Z state department, while the Progress
. sive Republican majority APPARENT
= remains unchanged in its support c
= a bill that would apply its restriction
= to orientals alone.
The conference with Secretary Br.
an served to show the breadth of th
J. sentiment in favor of an alien ham
law that shall be effective in checl
ing Japanese and Chinese immigrr
ton.
A dozen or more senators and a
IS semblymen declared the people of tt
IL state were almost a unit in deman
ing such a law and it was threatene
" that unless the Legislature act at tn
m time, the matter would be taken