The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-03
CALIFORNIA AnTI-JAP LAW,
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AGREE
ON DRASTIC MEASURE.
The Claim is Made That il Does Not
Conflict with Treaty But Accom-
plishes the End Sought and VIII
Prevent Acquisition OF Land by
Japanese.


open right Of way for final action in
the senate tomorrow morning on the
Webb anti-alien land act was pre-
pared today by floor leaders in the
upper house and before tomorrow
1ight concrete expression of the
legislatures attitude toward Secretary
BrSan's diplomatic visit will be at
hand in the shape of q vote on the
most drastic land holding act yet pro-
posed.
Secretary Bryan, spent the day in
San Francisco, not returning until
late tonight. 1t was not known
whether he had received further in
structions from President Wilson re-
garding his proposition to the legis-
lature.
In his absence the original plan t.
permit no further delay was carried
out, and when the senate adjourned
tonight the Webb bill, which stands
on the file as the accepted substitute
for the original Thompson -Birdsall
measure, was due to be reached with
in a few minutes after the upper
house convenes tomorrow morning.
! A few amendments may be offered
but they will be resisted with the full
force of the administration leaders,
who stated tonight that they expect
ed the act to be passed in it's present
form.
There was wide discussion Of the
new bill today, although but little
criticism was forthcoming from the
standpoint Of California IN com
parison with various drafts that pre-
ceded it, the Webb act is said to be
more drastic in reaching the japanese
farmers of the State than any other
proposed measure and at the same
time least Objectionable Of all from
an international point OF view.
Senator Thompson declared tonight
that the bill provided for "the i'm
mediate and direct solution Of the
Japanese problem and to that extent
it is the most rigid and uncompromis-
ing measure that has been suggested
Senator Thompson denied that the
wording Of the act or any part of it
can be taken as a concession to the
objections of Secretary Bryan, and
Gov. Johnson stated today that from
what he understood Of the situation
the measure did not have the ap-
proval Of President Wilson.
1T is altogether probable that we
would have reached this form of bill
in any case" said Senator Thompson,
and it can not fairly he said that the
draft repaired by Attorney Webb
reflects any Of the sentiments OF MIR.
Bryan except his desire that we do
not offend any one and that, of course
has been our guiding principle from
the beginning. At no time have we
had a wish to offend the people of
any nation and our desire to avoid
the words ineligible to citizenship
has been quite as strong as that of
the federal administration.
Those words are not used in the
Webb bill but l don't hesitate to say
that the effect and result is precisely
the same as if they were included and
it will be SO understood. There was
no Way to avoid il -
A close study Of the Webb bill shows
the full extent Of the restrictions
placed upon aliens who are not per-
mitted to become citizens, although
the limitations are precisely those i'm
posed in the existing treaty between
the United States and Japan, China
and other nations whose subjects are
! ineligible. In the case Of the Japan
ese they are prohibited entirely from
acquiring or holding land for farm
ing or agricultural purposes and it is
declared the act will put an end not
only to the growth OF Japanese farm
ing colonies but eventually to the colo
MES themselves.
This purpose Of the act is effected in
two ways:
l. on the death of an alien land
owner, the bill provides, his owner
ship ceases and the property must be
taken over by the probate court and
sold to the highest bidder. Under it's
terms an alien can not beQueath real
property except to "a citizen. The pro-
ceedS from the sale of such land are
distributed to the heirs by the court
2. No leases whatsoever are per-
mitted. Originally it was planned to
. permit leases covering Il maximum
period of three to five years, but the
Webb act denies this opportunity for
colonization by aliens and provides
that any lease OF agricultural lands is
I al loot ,l,N,