Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-22
sEoPLE OF STATE PROPOSE TO
HAVE LAND QUESTION SET.
TIED FOR ALL TIME.
ONE WAY OPEN TO DEFEAT
OBJECTIONS OF JAPAN
Could Make Law Apply to All Aliens
and No Foreign Nation Could Object
Controversy Bumps Hard Wilson
|. Bryan Disarmament Prosram-East
Fails 70 Grasp Reasons. j,
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence1
Washington. April 22.-'This matter
will. be settled satisfactorily. Legis-
lation with reference to the holding OF
land by aliens will be enacted. The
people Of California want the question
settled once for ALL"
So declared Congressman Raker, OF
California, today in regard to the out
look concerning the complications
which have arisen with Japan because
OF the insistent demand Of the people
OF California for legislation which Will
shut orientals qff from acquiring land.
Mr. Raker asserted his confidence
that the Legislature Of California Will
put thru q bill. He is not yet fully ad-
vised what the exact terms of 1T Will
be. But he feels that the people OF Cali
ifornia are bent on having some sort
of an end to the mooted problem and
that they believe 1t might better De
settled now than to wait.
It is the idea Of Mr. Raker that the
California legislature should enact
law and that Japan. II she feels hef
treaty rights are invaded, should carry
the controversy to the supreme court
He is keeping in close touch with the
situation thru kilograms from friends
in the legislature.
California Advocates Divided.
Dispatches from Sacramento convey
fntimations. that the defeat OF anti
alien land legislation may be brought
about because Of the letter which Pres
ident Wilson has sent to Governor
Johnson thru Secretary Of State Bryan.
In this letter, the administration en-
phasixes the gravity Of the situation
expresses desire for continued frieno-
sllip with Japan. and takes the view
thai gif the legislation IL enacted II
. skr,iid omit the words ineligible 70
citi1euships. and should apply to all
aliens alike.
should the legislature follow tHis
idea. while II would cause lot OF pro-
test from Europeans who have inter-
ests in California, there is no question
It would be valid and strictly within
the provisions Of the treaty. Wide OIL
ference of opinion exists in the Can-
fornia legislature whether this course
should be taken. Temporarily. at least,
It has divided the advocates Of alien
land legislation and for that reason
there is talk that all attempts at leg
islation may fail. The Thompson
Birdsall bill which is pending would
limit land holding to citizens and those
who have declared their intention to
become citizens. If such bill is passed
the federal government can not help 1t
and. as viewed by good lawyers, japan
would have no recourse under the
treaty.
East Fails to Grasp Situation.
That the people of California as
rule want legislation enacted is the
feeling Of most Of the members of the
California delegation here. They say
people in the east do not appreciate
the situation.
Congressman Stephens, Of Los An
geles, said there was strong opposition
in California to the unlimited acquir-
ing Of land by the japanese. He point
ed out that there would be no particu-
lar objection to them acquiring small
holdings but added:
THE japanese have a strong dispo-
sition to acquire land. In the Sacra-
mento valley there are some of the
richest lands in the world. Naturally.
the California people do not want TO
see these pass into the hands. Of for
eigners. The Japanese on the other
hand are eager to get them"
s Elsewhere in the state, the Japanese
are also seeking land. 1t appears the
land hunger of the Japanese is as great
as that of the Anglo-Saxon. The two
rival appetites for real estate have
clashed.
In spite Of much alarmist and jingo
talk in JapanSs by certain elements
there the government here takes a
calm view. President Wilson and Sec
retary Bryan take. no stock in war
talk. They realize that California has
certain rights which can not be in
vaded by the federal government and
also understand how most of the
people Of California feel. But they
want Eelatfonsswith Japan to continue
friendly and for that reason are using
their good offices to straighten out
tangle that might lead to grave results
II neglected.
Question Can't Be Evadsd.
The desirable way to settle the con-
troyersy would be to have it carried
Is sne supreme court and there decid-
ed. II. is clear to those who have given
study to the situation that the ques-
!. ton can notsbe permanently shifted or
eyaded. It has to be settled sooner or
later. California has never been will
ing to permit the unrestricted owner
ship OF property by orientals and II
< itine proposed legislation should fail this
time 1t would bob up at the very next
meeting of the legislature.
should California enact a general
,aw against alien landholding, espe-,
cially one barring all aliens from hold
ing land there would be absolutely
nothing raised in the nature Of a casus
ie,lf as viewed by international lew
experts. The treaties between nations
g rule carefully refrain from barter
4 s3ns away the right of country to bar
B eiiena non s landholding. The only