The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-05-28
BILL BECOMES Law !
governor JOHNSON PUTS his
NAME TO The
NOTED ALIEN Land LAW
Governor Johnson Issues Statement
in Which He Says That No Man
Who Wishes an Alien Land Law
Will Sign a Referendum as to This
Law.

~
Will Sign a Referendum as to This
Law.
California's alien land bill became
the law Of the State Monday. Against
protests Of Japan and representations
of President Wilson and his personal
envoy, Secretary of State Bryan, Gov
ernor Johnson signed the bill, and
ninety days after the adjournment Of
the Legislature, or on August 10, the
Act becomes operative.
Within California the Act has en-
countered triple hostility, which may
delay its operation until November l.,
1914. Democrats opposed State leg
islation at this time, as matter of
party regularity. Nevertheless, so
plain to them seems to be the de-
mand for the bill that, after exhaust
ing all parliamentary tactics, the
senate gave only one adverse Demo-
cratic vote and the assembly only
two.
AS an expression of this opposi-
ton, Theodore Bell, late Democratic
candidate for Governor and former
chairman of the Democratic State
central committee, has issued an in
vitation to his party to submit the is
sue to the people by invoking the
referendum against the bill. He
grounds his opposition on two conten-
tions-one that the bill is insufficient
ly drastic, because it permits leases
running three years; and, second, be-
cause it embarrasses the National Ad-
ministration.
The Asiatic Exclusion League, an
organization of which the president is
Olaf A. Tveitmore, recently convicted
Of completely in the dynamite con-
spiracy," announced Sunday night
that it would invoke the referendum
purely because it opposed the bill as
faint-hearted.
Thirdly, the powerful Panama-Pa-
cific Exposition Company, backed by
many Chambers of Commerce, has
placed itself on record in opposition
to the bill on the ground that it is a
violation Of faith.
In reply to this threatened hostil-
ity Governor Johnson said in signing
the bill:
II repeat what I have before said:
''That California for the first time
is it's history has an anti-alien law.
Any man who wishes another kind
of law may consistently invoke the
initiative. No man who really wish
es an alien law will sign a referndum
as to this law.
eff another law is sought it may
be presented by means of the initia-
tive and in the meantime the present
law will be in operation. To tie up
the present law means no law until
November, 1914"
The two visiting Japanese are Sor-
oku Ebara, of the Constitutional par
ty and a member of the House OF
Peers, and Ayao Hattori, Of the Ma
tionalist party, member Of the low
er house. They make it plain they
came merely as representatives OF
their parties with view to learning
the acuta1 conditions and prevailing
sentiment in California. Mr.. Hat
tori said: "Our plans are somewhat
indefinate. We may see Governor
Johnson and I expect to visit Presi-
dent Wilson at his summer home be.
fore 7 return. I was taking special
work at Princeton when the Presi-
dent was lecturing there, and his
course was one Of those I attended.
Brief statements were issued Mon
day night by Ayao Hattori an Soruko
Ebara, the Japanese who arrived
Monday to inquire unoficially into
the situation that brought about the
California alien land legislation. Mr.
Ebara's statement did not indicate
his views upon the issue. Mr.. Hat
tori's, however, was vigorous Of pur-
pose.
81 have come here" he said, cas-
the representative of the Liberal par
ty of Japan. The treaty we have with
America is deficient and I advocate
its revision. AS to the land law
question I think we should secure the
right of naturalization. With regard
to naturalization of the Japanese, it
seems to me that Japan is almost un-
animous in demanding the same, but
how to secure it is not decided yet"
'I am a member Of the Japanese
Peace Society. We hope to solve this
problem peacefully and honorably."
Mr.. Ebara's statement follows:
II have come here as the represen-
tative of the Constitutional party,
the majority party Of Japan: My
mission is in interest Of establishing
a better understanding between the
United States and Japan. The peo-
pie Of Japan are in sympathy with
the Japanese in California and they
are endeavoring to help them out Of
trouble in a peaceable manner. AS
to the California question, I am not
yet in position to speak, because