The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-26
STRINGENT ALIEN LAND BILL.
RUMOR OF NEW MEASURE
/. HEARD WITH REGRET BY
PRESIDENT.
Officials Believe Bill
will Resemble Assembly Measure
Efforts To AmeliOrate Harsh Fea-
lures will be Continued by Admin
istratiOn - II State Courts Should
Uphold Such Statute, Case Would
be Taken to Supreme Court.

1Strat1On - III state Courts Should
Uphold Such Statute, Case Would
be Taken to Supreme Court.
Sacramento, Cal. April 2l.-Two
new bills dealing with the question Of
land ownership by aliens in Califor-
mia, each representing the view of
considerable faction in the Legis-
lature, will be offered, and it believed
is voted on by the Senate this week.
Through an agreement reached by
leaders Of the majority party a dras-
tic law directed solely against the
Japanese and Chinese will be prepar-
ed as substitute for the Thompson
Birdsall measure and probably will
be passed. If not, an end will have
come to the anti-alien land legisla-
tion at this session, floor leaders de-
clare. 1t now is planned to throw
out entirely the guarded language OF
the Thompson BirdsalI bill and put
in its place two simple prohibitions.
"1.-No alien who is ineligible to
| citizenship shall be permitted to ac-
quire and hold land in California for
period Of more than one year af-
ter date Of such acquisition.
No corporation. the majority of
stock Of which is held by aliens who
are eligible to citizenship shall be per-
mitted to acquire and hold land ex.
cept for one year"
The plan is in direct opposition to
the suggestions contained in the tele-
gram received by Governor Johnson
from Secretary Bryan OF the State de-
partment last week and the Demo-
Gratis have decided to offer a bill which
will cOnfine the restriction to "aliens
who have not declared their intention
to become citizens according to law"
In effect the Progressive Republi-
cans now are proposing substantially
the original Democratic bill, while the
Democrats are tending towards the
original Administration bill.
Effect I'm Washington.
Washington, April 21.-News Of the
determination OF the Legislative lead
ers in Sacramento to frame and pass
an alien land owning bill, directly dis
eliminating against the Japanese, un-
officially conveyed to the White House
ana state department, was received
with grave concern and disappoint-
ment. Such a development had not
been expected in view Of the first ia
| vorable comments in California upon
the Presidents suggestion that regard
he had for preservation of the friend
ly relations between this country and
the Oriental nations.
The Administration is not yet at
the end of its resources. and will con-
tinue its efforts to amcliorate harsh
features Of the projected legislation
until the measure is beyond reach Of
amendment in that direction.
While the President has in his mes
sage to Governor Johnson, transmit.
ted through Secretary Bryan, recog-
nized the right Of the people Of Cali
fornia to legislate according to their
Judgment on the subject Of land ten
ure, he is also under the obligation
OF guarding against encroachment by
State legislation upon that part of the
field of international relations reserv-
ed by the Constitution to the Nation
al Government.
Therefore, in the event the Califor-
MIA legislation takes the form of dl-
rect discrimination against the Jap
anese in violation Of what the Admin
istration itself regards as their treaty
rights the National Government itself
might enter the lists against the State
Of California, before the judicial trib-
unals Of the land,
1t does not follow that the United
states Government would take tho in
itiative in the judicial proceedings
intended to test the legality of the
States action. In the ordinary
course the initial step would be taken
by Japanese individuals or corpor-
atoms in California whose lands are
sought to be escheated. But it il full
ly expected that the department Of
Justice would come forward as an in
tervener. throwing the weight Of the
United States Government into the
scale in defence of the treaty rights
of the japanese.
IT the state courts should uphold
such statute the case would be aD-
pealed to the United States Circuit
Court, and almost certainly, by one
party or the other. taken to the Uni
ted States Supreme Court, which tri-