Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-04-29
ADMITS STATE MAY
ENACT RIGID STATUTE
However, He Points Out That
Such Action Would Be
Against Earnest Wish of
President Wilson,
NNTI.NIIEN LAND BlII
pIOnNBIN WILL PASS

sacramento. April ss a day
az conference between secretary .
Rryun and Governor Johnson :
and the members nf the Caliioi-
mia legislature over proposed .
anti-alitn land laws ended to- >
nieht with the conference ad- =
iourned 20 await replies to mes e
sages sent ta Washington to- {.
night las Mr Bryan
The impression prevailed here .
d. when the conference adjourned. %
that the resolve of the majority .
leaders. previously announced. .
10 enact hlil specifically dehar- .
ring aliens ineligible "a citizen .
ship" from owning land IN Calf :
fornm remained unchanged, al
though Mr. Bryan. az the per
sonnl representative of President
. Wilson. advised strongly against
such action Governor Johnson :
/. Indicated this IN a brief. intense :
address 10 the conference. lie .
declared California's right to fol.
/. low the lead OF other states IN
framing the land bill was unques. =
+. toned and said such action now 2
seemed assured.
"A have presented the presl-
dents Views as understand
3. thom." declared Mn ngan 10
the conference Just before u ndr
. journed Tonight ! shall alih-
/. nit 20 him the further questions
2 you have asked me. calling his
{. attention 60 the statutes Of
Washington and Arizona and |
shall be prepared tomorrow
hope. To- give yon his answer"
1. 8ess % ses. 4. o 3. .
tBy Morning journal special tcased Wire.
Sacramento. Cal, April 2S.-cali
fornia. in the fullness OF her right a.
4 state. may enact Il rigid land law
barring orientals from ownership. bu
such action would be against tn
earnest wish Of the national admins
tration
This Is the substance Of the messaH'
william j. Bryan, secretary of stal'
and personal representative of Presi
dent Wilson. delivered today to a se
cret conference attended only by Gov
ernor Johnson. Lieutenant Governor
Wallace and tho i20 members Of th'
California legislature.
Secretary Bryan arrived IN saera
mento ut o'clock this morning. VIII
Ms consent. plans were laid for ~
immediate hearing. and shortly aftei
If o'clock the first session Of the con
ference began. untll the great oakci
doors Of the assembly chamber were
closed and locked, secretary Bryaf
refused to give any inkling Of his mes
sage 10 anyone and even at the con
ference he spoke only after legisla
tors had explained fully the public de'
mand for alien land legislation tina
brought about the present situation
Those who expected Secretary Hiy
nm To expound a new theory OF state
rights. were disappointed, as wer'
those who expected predictions OF war
Advice in the name of President VII
son was all Mr. Bryan had 10 ofier
and the paramount question here To-
night Is whether such advice VII
overcome the previously announced
determination of the progressive re-
publican majority to enact an anu
alien land holding law along lines AT
ready agreed upon
Secretary Bryan reafflfmed the
states right to act IN a manner Il
saw fit, hut suggested several aitcfnu'
tives To the passage Of q Dill restrict
Ing aliens ineligible TO citizenship
basng his reason on the broad 'onnde-
tion of public policy Briefly these AZ
ternatives in the order in which theN
were suggested, are as follows
First Delay immediate action ana
allow the state department TO Try %
accomplish the ends desired by means
of "A new treaty with japan.
second. Delay immediate action
and appoint committee to inNesu-
gate the subject of alien land owner
ship and act in conjunction win 'h'
president in securing relief
Third. Enact a Law similar to the
statute In Illinois, which permits
aliens to hold land for a period net
exceeding six years and applies allke
to all aliens
Fourth. Enact q law similar 10 tue
federal statute governing hand own
crship in the District Of Columbia.
when Is general law applying to al
aliens
OF these alternatives, It may sateiN
be said. according 10 leaders In the
legislature, that the last two are oh'
of question. Many democrats faVof
turning the matter over to tho state
while the progressive re-
publican majority apparently remains
unchanged In support of a bill that