Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-05-01
Says Proposed Land Law Would EN-
baFrass Administration
CONFERENCE is IN SECRET
Alternatives Suggested DO Not Meet
With Approval of Legislators
Secretary Gives Mr..
Wilson's Views.

Sacramento, CAL, April 29.-Cal
ifornia, in the fullness Of her RICH
as state may enact a rigid lant
law barring orientals from owner
ship, but such action would b
against the earnest wish of the ma
tional administration.
This is the substance OF the mes
sage william Jennings Bryan, sec
rotary of state and personal repre-
sentative OF President Wilson, de-
livered yesterday to a secret confer
ence attended only by Governor
johnson, Lieutenant Governor Wal
lace and the 100 members Of the
California legislature.
Secretary Bryan arrived in Sacra-
mento at 6 o'clock Monday morning.
Plans were laid for an immediate
hearing and shortly after IL o'clock
the first session of the conference be-
gun. Until the great oaken doors of
the assembly chamber were closed
and locked, Secretary Bryan refus-
ed to give any inkling of his mes
sage to any one, and even at the
conference he spoke only after leg
islators had explained fully the pub
lie demand for alien legislation that
brought about the present situa-
ton.
Those who expected Secretary Bry-
an to expound new theory Of state
rights were disappointed, as were
those who expected predictions Of
war. Advice in the name of Presi-
dent Wilson was all Mr.. Bryan had
to offer. The paramount question
here yesterday IL whether such ad-
vice will overcome the previously
announced determination Of the
Progressive majority to enact an
alien land law along lines already
agreed upon.
Secretary Bryan suggested sever
n alternatives to the passage Of
bill restricting aliens ineligible to
citizenship" basing his reasons on
the broad foundation of public pol
icy. Briefly, these alternatives in
the order in which they were sug-
gested are as follows: d.
Delay immediate action and allow
the state department to try to ac-
complish the ends desired by means
Of new treaty with Japan.
Delay immediate action and APP
point a commission to investigate the
subject Of alien land ownership and
act in conjunction with the presi-
dent in securing relief.
Enact a law similar to statute in
Illinois. which permits aliens to hold
land for period not exceeding six
years and applies alike to all aliens.
Enact law similar to the feder-
nj statute governing land ownership
in the District of Columbia, which
is general law applying to all
OF these alternatives, 1t may safe
ly be said, according to leaders in
the legislature, the last two are out
Of the question. Many Democrats
favor turning the matter over to the
state department, while the Progress
sive majority apparently remains
unchanged In its support of a bill .
that would apply its restrictions to
Orientals alone.
The conference with Secretary
Bryan served to show the breadth
If the sentiment in favor of an alien
and law that shall be effective in
the Japanese and Chinese
A dozen or more SEN
tors and assemblymen declared the
'eople7of the state we're almost
init in demanding such a law, and
was threatened that unless the B
legislature acted at this time, the '
natter would be taken up through J
he initiative and passed by the peO- Il
lie themselves. c
4 =