Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-04-25
GOV. JOHNSON PROTESTS
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

frff'Fs'Nf 49,
elimination under which he SAYS
California OF AL other states has al
ways been singled out for opposition
when sAe contemplated the passage
OF anti-alien legislation and declar-
ing that the nation and not the state
has drawn the line against those Ia
eligible 10 eitizenship Governor
Hiram w johnson today Issued O
statement In which be fully sets
forth his personal views OF the situ-
alton
Sohnson'E statement.
The governor statement follows
The suggestion OF the president
that Secretary Of state Bryan visit
California Tor eonlerence OF the
pending land bills was az once ac-
copied BY both houses OF the legiala-
tpre and by the governor and We will
be glad ~ welcome Mr. Bryan on his
arrival While the legislature very
properly maintained the right Of the
state " .egislate on matter clear
y within its Jurisdiction, J am sure
there Is no disposition to oncroach
upop the International functions of
the national government Hor unjuaL-
ly " wound the sensibilit.os Of any
nation.
Protosts Discrimination.
NY protest has been against the
discrimination to which California
has been subjected 10 the assumption
that actiou which has boeu accepted
without domur when taken by other
atatos aud by the nation 10 Offensive
II even discussed by California ]
am not predicting tbat the California
legislature will take any action on
this subject nor If IL does, fore
casting the termf Of any law which
may be enacted I am merely de
Tending the right Of California W
consider and, If lts legislators deem
advisable " enact Law which is
clearly within both ts legal power
and its moral right
Much bas bceu said Of the dig
nifty Of japan We would pot Will
jngly a0rout the dignity Of Japan
nor offend its pride But what shall
be said Of the proposition that o.
great state itself on empire Of pos
sibiliues greater than those Of most
nations, shall be halted from the
mere consideration Of legislative
act admittedly within its jurisdlc
tiop by the protest Of foreign
power which has Itself enacted even
more stringent regulations on the
same subtect2 What Of the dignity
Of California;
California Has Right
Admittedly California has a
right 10 pass an alien land Law No
one suggests that such q bill should
~ terms describe The japanese It
has been suggested lbat such q Jaw
IN California shall follow The distinc-
tions which arc already an uuprotest
ed part oi the Jaw and policy Of the
United states The United States
has determined who are eligible 10
citigenship The nation bas solemn
ly decreed that certain races. among
whom are tbe japanese are not elig
ible 20 citizenship The line has
been drawn, NOT By California, but
by the United states Discfimina
ti0R, II u ever occurred came and
went when the nation declared who
were and who We're not eligible to
citizenship n California follows the
line marked out by the federal GOV
erDmnt the United states and not
California should be accused of dis
elimination The constitution at Cal
ifornia since 1879 has said that the
presence ui foreigners ineligible 10
borQme citizens az The United States,
is declared 10 be dangerous 10 the