Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-04-22
Chief Executive of California;
Points Out That Numerous
Precedents Exist for LegiS-
Iation Contemplated,
UNITED STATES HAS
SIMILAR ENACTMENT
No Occasion for Criticism or
Sundering of Friendly ReIa-
tions with Japan Because of
Bill Now Pending
ny Morning Journal special Leased wlre1

iBy Morning Journal special Leased MireA
Sacramento. Cal. April a. GoNer-
nor johnson gave ont tonight the fol-
lowing statement regarding the pend
ing allen land legislation This is the
first statement the governor has
made on the subject
"Californians are unable 10 under
stand why an act admittedly Within
the jurisdiction of the California lcg-
islature. like the passage Of an alien
land bill. creates tumult confusion
and criticism, and why this local aet
of undnnhted right becomes nn inter-
national question. or course. the
California Legislature would not at
tempt to contrayene any treaty of
the nation. nor to do more than has
been done by the federal government
itself and many other states To Say
that California must do less. or hc
subjected to harsh criticism and the
charge of disruptinp friendly rcla
tions with foreign powers. is to deny
to California what has been freely ae-
corded TO every other state In the
union. and what has never been Ques-
toned with any other state.
"Our legislature is now considering
an alien land bill in general language
and not discriminatory Ii terms are
used which are claimed to Dee dis
criminatory. those very terms long
since were made $50 hy many enact
ments aud hv the laws of the nation
itself. Broadly speaking. many states
have endeavored TO prevent the own
eiship nf land 10y those ineligible to
citizenship The power To pass such
laws Is conceded. hut Immediately
upon the exercise Of this power hy a
great sovereign state. a remarkable
and inexplicable cutlery is heard all
over the land and in other lands as
we'll
"The United states by statute pro-
vided that no alien or person who Is
not citizen OF the United states. or
who has not declared his intention
to become q citizen Of the United
states. shall acquire title to land. etc.
and in relation TO the District Of Co
lumbia the United states statutes
contain the same inhibition
Arizona, in 1912, passed its act
thai no person other than citilt n
or the United states or who mas de-
clared his intention to becoming sueh
shall hereafter acquire any land, etc"
and this statute though passed IN
1912 did not evoke "A storm OF pro
test from wcll-meaning philanlhf1-
pists in our own land. or threaten %
rupture i'm diplomatic relations win
any foreign nation.
s'The state of Washington prevents
the acquisition or holding Of lahds
by those who are incapable Of be-
coming citizens of the United States
and neither the right nor the pre-
prlety of this enactment by the state
of Washington was denied.
afllinois has enacted that any alien
may hold title for the period on SIX
years and then If he shall not nave
become a citizen Of the United Slales.
shall be commenced iol
the sale OF the land and ihe pfoceeus
shall 20 to the state.
minnesota proNies that no pers"h
unless he De citizen Of the hiltu
states. or has declared his Intention 70
become a citizen shall acquire iand
Missouri has "A similar enactment.
Kentucky. Oklahoma TeNas-ail have
laws Of like character.
I'VE of California ask therefore,
why should California be singled out
for attack when it Is exercising the
same right that has been exercised
by SO many states and by the Ohiieu
states itself2
Japan, until 1910, had an absolute
law AGAINST alien ownership ana III
effect has 1t yet What the lnitea
states government has done VIVA
has been zone by many states OF the
union. whai t1s been done by Japan
-all of whien admittedly had been
done in pursuance OF unQnestonfn
power and undo hted rights now
attempted TO be done by the state 81
California; and NJ reason can Logically
exist for hvsteria, for sunderint
friendly relations with any power y
for offenses and threats by any ma
ton
.tThe character of the present Gan
fornia Legislature is the guarantee
that only legislation deemed absolute
lv essential for the preservation 81
the state and the protection OF lls
people-lcgislatio having its prece-
dent IN the enactments Of the nauohal
government and the various states
viii be passed And such measures
as may be enactcd will be considered
thoroughly. calmly iudiciaAF ahu |