Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-05-02
MISSION IS FAILURE
BRYAN ADMITS INABILITY TO AN
sWER QUESTIONS ON ALIEN
LAND LAW.
SESSION LONG AND STORMY
csiyes the Presidents vlews-Prennler
Urges Legislature TO Delay Action
on Proposed Law Until the Next
Session.

Sacramento, Cal, April 30.-In the
fullness of her right as state, Cali
fornia may enact rigid land law
barring Orientals from ownership, but
such action would be against the earn
est wish of the national administers
zion.
This is the substance Of the mes
sage William Jennings Bryan, secre-
tary OF state and personal represent
atiye of President Wilson, delivered
Monday to a secret conference attend
cd only by Governor Johnson, Lieu
tenant Governor Wallace and the 12O
members of the California legislature.
"This is a matter which can be
settled by diplomatic negotiations,
said Secretary of State Bryan to the
legislature. 'The national govern
ment asks you to let alien land owner
ship legislation lie over until the next
session"
1t appears the anti-alien bill will be
enacted.
Washington, April 30.-A ''war
speech" In support of the proposed
California anti-alien land law was de-
iiyered in the house by Representa-
tive Thomas Upton Sisson Of Mis-
sissippI Monday.
IF we must have war or submit to
this indignity, / am for wal" cried Mr..
Sisson. II am with the people OF Cali
fornia in their efforts to prevent these
aliens in acquiring land. ] believe
that no nonresident alien should be
allowed to hold single foot Of land in
the territory of the United States.
What would Washington say in an
swer to the question, war or submits
sion? What would Jackson say :?
What would Cleveland say? What
would Mckinley say? | resent the eff
forts of Japan to force us to submit
TO her demands"
Mr.. Sisson took the position that
the Japanese government in protest
ing against alien land legislation was
.endeavoring to exempt its citizens
from operation of the laws of the states.
THE president and secretary of
state" said Mr.. Sisson, should only
assume an alien government that the
people Of that alien nation would be
dealt with fairly in accordance with
the law of the state. Any other posi-
ton would lead to the federal govern
ment taking out from under the laws
OF the states the citizens Of another
nation. But all citizens or aliens resi-
dent in state must be held subject
to it's laws, and to exempt the alien
would give him privileges over and
above those accorded to American
citizens"
Mr.. Sisson contended that the peo-
pie OF California had the right to pass
laws regarding alien holding of land
as in their judgment seemed best,
when such laws do not infringe
upon the federal constitution.
Mr.. Sisson discussed at length
points of international law involved in
the dispute and declared that Califor-
MIA was endeavoring to do only what
Japan had already done.
IF Japan now threatens us with
war, what would she do when millions
of her civilized have acquired land In
our country" he said. Il lay down
the proposition that an alien popula-
ton holding land within our borders
would be fixed and constant menace.
We must preserve to the American
farmer the right to own the soil OF
our country without competition
which would drag down his standard
of living. would not surrender 1t
unless we had spent the last drop OF
blood in American manhood, and inn
poverished our country for hundred
generations.