The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-05-16
DELAY IN ALIEN
LAW IS SOUGHT
President Wilson Asks Johnson
to Defer Action.
BRYAN WIRES THE GOVERNOR
Declares Administration Ready to Co
operate in Systematic Effort to
Discover and Correct Any
Existing Evils.

Washington, May 13.-The federal
governments final effort to delay alien
land owning legislation in California
was made Sunday when Secretary
Bryan, in the name of President Will
son, telegraphed Governor Johnson
notifying him that the Japanese am
bassador had earnestly protested
against the bill passed by the Califor-
MIA assembly and urging that the
governor postpone action by with
holding his signature.
The statement in full is as follows:
Hiram w. Johnson, Governor:
The president directs me to ex-
press his appreciation of your courtesy
in delaying action on the land bill now
before you until it's provisions could
be communicated to the japanese gov
eminent and considered by it.
His excellency, Baron Chinda, has
on behalf of his government, pre-
sented an earnest protest against the
measure. AS you have before you but
two alternatives, viz; to approve or to
veto, it will avail nothing to recall to
gested to the legislature and as the
president has already laid before you
his views upon the subject, it is un-
necessary to reiterate them
He passes over questions affecting
treaty rights for two reasons. First.
because the bill passed by the legisla-
ture is avowedly intended to conform
to treaty obligations, and, second, be-
cause any conflict complained of
would be matter for the courts but
the president feels justified in ex-
pressing again his desire that action
on the subject be deferred for this
session, and he expresses the desire
the more freely because the legisla-
ture can be reconvened at any time if
the welfare of the state requires it.
He is fully alive to the Importance
of removing any root of discord which
may create antagonlsm between
American citizens and the subjects of
Oriental nations residing here, but he
is impelled by sense Of duty to ex-
press the hope that you will see fit
to allow time for diplomatic action.
The nations affected by the proposed
law are friendly ADMINISTRATIONS that
have shown themselves willing to CO.
operate in the establishment Of
harmonious relations between their
people and ours.
If a postponement commends itself
to your judgment the president will be
pleased to cooperate in systematic
effort to discover and correct any
evils that may exist in connection
with land ownership by aliens.
wv. J. BRYAN"
Washington, May 1.-THE admins
tration is awaiting reply either by
message or by action from Governor
Johnson to Secretary Bryan's tele-
gram of Sunday night requesting that
ne veto the alien land owning bill
passed by the California legislature
and give the state department an OPP
portunity to deal automatically with
the problems involved. President VIII
son believes the negotiations between
Japan and the United States are not
in an alarming stage, but that the in
terchange of views thus far has been
along frank and friendly lines, calcu-
lated to remove the appearance of dis
elimination against Japanese subjects.