River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-22
ENHANCEMENT IS
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
WAR TALK IS BRANDED AS VERY
RIDICULOUS BY JAPs,
HOWEVER.
EXPECT JUSTICE FROM U. S.
Conceded That Failure Probably
Means COMPREHENSIVE
Over Situation in Wash
noton.

Toxic, May 20.-Faith in the Amer
lean people to see that justice is done
the Japanese is the dominating note
in the discussion of the California
alien land ownership legislation.
Denounce War Talk.
War talk is denounced as ridiculous
and only calculated to embarrass the
two governments, which are laboring
for a peaceful settlement by diplom-
acy.
1t is conceded, however, that fail
ure on the part of the Americans to
respond to the Japanese appeal for
discontinuance of the alleged dis
elimination would be liable to lead to
some enlargement. The Japanese
public generally is convinced that the
land bill is a racial and not an eco
nomic measure, and hence blow to
national pride, and the people feel
that the world must be taught the
necessity of equal treatment for the
whites and non-Whites.
The Toxic newspapers are loud in
their praise of President Wilson's
zeal in his endeavors to preserve the
traditional friendship, and they recog-
nize the difficulties which confront
the president of the United States in
the. confusing conflict between the
state and federal rights.
Firm Attitude Urged.
The Nichi Nichi is of the opinion
that the question as to whether the
Washington government can procure
for the Japanese equal rights depends
upon the strength of Japanese diplom-
acy, and urges the government to
take a firm attitude.
A joint celebration of the Japanese
and American peace societies was at
tended by 1000 Japanese. Speeches
were made by Count Okuma, former
minister of foreign affairs; Baron
Yoshiro Sakatani, mayor of Toxic,
and Tsunejiro Miyaoka, who was
councillor of the Japanese embassy at
Washington in 1906. All the speakers
endeavored to clarity the situation and
decried Jingoism.
Wait for Johnson to Sign Bill.
IL.
Japanese situation continues to ex-
cite anxious attention in official and
diplomatic quarters, but there are no
specific developments at the White
House, the state department or the
Japanese embassy.
Nine of the 80 days Governor John.
son has, under the California consti
II
now elapsed and the impression is be-
ginning to gain ground here that the
governor will avail himself of the full
measure Of time, even though he has
declared his purpose to approve the
Webb bill.
No Recent Communications.
Secretary Bryan has not communi-
Gated with the governor since the re-
ceipt of his Geographic message set
ting out his reasons for upholding the
action of the legislature, but is simply
waiting for the final act of signature
before making reply to the Japanese
note protesting against the legisla-
ton.
Whether the Japanese embassy will
continue to await the expiration of
the full 30-day period of grace be-
fore making fresh representations on
this subject to the state department,
depends entirely upon the judgment
of the foreign office in Toxic, for from
this point forward all of the proceed
ings in the negotiations will be lad
referendum
While the Japanese viewpoint has
not been made known from any Off
cial source, yet it is believed here
that they consider the first clause of
the law as the one contravening the
spirit, if not the letter, of the treaty.
This first clause allows aliens "elig-
ible to citizenship" to hold lands. AS
the Japanese are not, under the pres
ent naturalization laws, eligible to
citizenship, this clause specifically
debars them from land ownership.