The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-05-23
JOHNSON SIGNS
ALIEN LAND BILL
Makes Law Measure Against
Which Japan Protests.
Is EFFECTIVE AUGUST II
Reply of United States to Niponese
Complaint Is Handed to Anbas-
ssdor Chinda by Secre-
tary Bryan.

Sacramento, Cal, May 21.-Cali-
fornia's alien land law has become the
law of the state. Against the protests
of Japan and the representations of
President Wilson and his personal en-
voy, Secretary of State Bryan, Govern
or johnson signed the bill and ninety
days after the adjournment of the leg
islature, or on August 10, the act be-
comes operative.
While the governor was signing the
bill the steamship Korea was passing
through the Golden Gate, bearing two
distinguished japanese, one former
pupil of President Wilson, on a mis-
sion of investigation.
Meanwhile the complications, ma
tional and sectional, beset the Dill.
Overshadowing all is the outcome of
the negotiations now in congress be-
tween this country and Japan, which
has interpreted the act as discrimina-
tory and offensive.
Governor Johnson, in signing the
bill, gave out the following statement:
Il repeat what / have before said:
That California for the first time in its
history has al alien law. Any man
who wishes another kind of a law may
consistently invoke the initiative. No
man who really wishes an anti-alien
law will sign a referendum as to this
law.
If another law is sought it may be
presented by means of the initiative,
and in the meantime the present law
will be in operation. To tie up the
present law means no law until No
vember, 1914"
Washington May 21.-The reply of
the United States to the Japanese pro-
test against the enactment of the Cali
fornia alien land law was handed to
Viscount Chinda, the japanese ambas-
sador, by Secretary of State Bryan
here. At the same time a copy of the
reply was cabled to Toxic for personal
presentation to the mikado's govern
ment by the American charge DAT
flares
Owing to the fact that Japan fatty
refused to make public the text of her
original protest against the enforce
ment of the bill, government officials
here said that the United States could
not publish the text of the American
reply, which is couched in terms which
correspond to the protest in such
Tanrer that the latter geld be de-
duced from the former 1t Is under
stood, however, that the Bryan reply
is every bit as frank as was the pro-
test and that it outlines the United
States position in no uncertain terms.
Japan is informed that this govern
ment is bound by the action of the Cal
ifornia legislature and governor, but
that the administration has done and
will continue to do everything in it's
power to prevent the least breach in
the friendly relations between the two
governments. A new treaty is limited
at in the reply and it is further stated
that the enforcement of the law can
probably be deferred until after negoti-
ations for this new treaty are well I'M
der way.
This is the last step of this govern
ment with respect to the Japanese sit
uation. The next move will come from
Toxic, and government officials said
that it could not forecast with any de-
gree Of certainty, but Governor John
sons action in signing the bill would
undoubtedly bring the situation to
crisis
President Wilson clearly indicated to
callers that he believes the racial pride
of the Japanese to be at the bottom of
the whole matter-that the feeling is
that Americans do not consider the
Orientals on the same level with them
selves has produced hot resentment
in Japan, which has found an outlet in
the present situation.
The president also believes that the
Portsmouth conference, suggested by
and carried on under former President
Roosevelt, has great deal to do with
the present unrest, because the Jap
anese feel that they did not get all that
was coming to them by the terms Of