The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-29

I Stcdp VI ~ WI 'oe@N
BIZ selected to hear Mr.. Bryan's argu-
ments, but Boynton protested.
Il am opposed to giving the matte,
over to a select conference until Sec
rotary Bryan has stated to the entire
membership of the legislature here
assembled, the reasons which impelleC
the president to oppose, if he does OPP
pose, the passage of the pending
measures" said Boynton.
After several others had spoken
many of them quoting statistics tc
show the increase in lane holdings by
Japanese during recent years, Secre-
tary Bryan arose. His first statemen,
was concerning the secret conference
which he said he had favored, with
the support of Governor Johnson and
the presiding officers of both houses
Secretary Bryan said he could speak
with more %frankness to the members
than he could to a ''promiscuous audi
ence.'
AS the representative of the presi-
dent" he began, Il feel keenly the
responsibility that is placed upon me.
/ would have preferred to have him
come himself, as the head of the ma
ton, but that seemed impossible, and
he delegated me to speak for him. |
do not pretend to do other than ex-
press his views. I am simply his
spokesman and l will say to you only
that which he would have me say.
LAS to the constitutiona1ity of our
treaty with Japan, you will pardon
me if | decline to act as the supreme
court. Further, as to the question of
immigration, l think We can consider
that question as independent of the
land question with which we are here
concerned"
Questions concerning the treaty and
the immigration of Japanese to the
United States had been asked during
| the debate. Continuing. Mr.. Bryan
said:
Il have listened to what you have
said, and / assume everything to be
true; that you have not overdrawn or
exaggerated the feeling of the people
of California in the matter. | can as
sumo that the people demand that
something be done.
IN hat case, the first question is
whether the legislation is demanded
at this time. If it can be delayed,
then the first suggestion that the
president would ave me make is that
pou permit an effort to be made to deal
with the question automatically, with
a view to reaching the same results
without legislation.
IF the demand is so immediate tina
this cannot be done, canno action be
| 1EfarraI for tWn tnay ~. anl in the
meantime nave a commission APP
pointed to investigate conditions, and
act with the executive? Would it not
be worth while to try this plan before
You adopt the plan that might result
in unfriendliness from a foreign ma
ton?
Il am not going to indulge in any
speculations as to what may happen
if you do anything now, but I am here
to advise against the use of n Ian
guage that Woul offend any people
that have dealings with u.s."
In case of immediate action being
demanded, Secretary Bryan, said, he
would be in favor of a law framed
along the lines of the Illinois law, or
the federal statute in the District of
toluIIhJld, Doln OF WINCH are genera
in character.
Either of these measures is prefer
able to language that includes the
! words ineligible to citizenship" add
| ed Mr.. Bryan. president Wilson be-
lieves if you use these words, you
might as well make a law declaring
specifically against Japanese and Chi
nese ownership.
This expresses the views of the
president. He desires me to say that
if such a law is passed, he will recog-
nize his duty as president to do al
in his power to minimize the i~ll-feel-
ing that might be aroused. At the
same time he believes it is his duty
as president to urge earnest consid-
Grafton of his advice, which Is given
here with no desire to interfere with
what you nay regard as necessary
And further he urges that if you pro-
coed at once, you consider the advis-
ability of using language that cannot
be justly criticized as offending those
nations with whom we are friendly"
The afternoon session of the con-
ference, L~eginning at 4 and lasting
until 7 o'clock, brought a climax to
the days proceedings. Question after
question was hurled at Secretary Bry-
an, who admitted his inability to an
sWer many of them. Towards the
close of the meeting, he arose and
said:
Il have said all that I came to say.
| have answered all of the questions
that have been asked and my mission
here is ended whenever you may feel
that you have conferred as much as
you like with the representative of the
president.
L came with no program, simply to
confer. | have presented the presi-
dents views as | understand them.
have communicated to him this after
noon several propositions after lis
tenlng to Wha you have had to say,
Tonight | shall submit to him the
further questions you have asked me,
calling attention to the statutes OF
Washington and Arizona, and | shall
be prepared tomorrow, l hope, to give
you his w
Much of the debate during the aft
ernoon hinged upon whether Califor-
MIA should be questioned in passing a