The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-22
WILSON TAKES
HAND IN FIGHT
President Sends Appeal to Cali
fOrnia Legislature.
Asks Them Not to Enact Indis-
Greet Land Laws.
MATTER OF NATIONAL HONOR
Alien Bill Might Impair All
Treaty Obligations.
Good VIII and Friendship OF
Japan Is Appreciated.
JAPAN PROUD AND SENSITIVE
Self Confidence Since Russian
War Has Been Felt.
Feeling Never More Bitter
Against United States.
Good Will and Friendship OF
Japan Is Appreciated.
JAPAN PROUD And SENSITIVE
Self Confidence Since Russian
War Has Been Felt.
Feeling Never More Bitter
Against United States.


Wilson after a conference with the
Democrat delegation from California
in convention today decided to tele-
graph Governor Johnson and legisla-
tive leaders in California appealing
to them not to enact any anti-aiIen
land laws in contravention of treaty
obligations of the United States with
Japan.
The telegram was as follows:
Il speak on the assumption, which
1 am sure is well founded that Ine
people of California do not desire thelr
representatives and that their repre-
sentative do not wish or intend IN
any circumstances to embarrass the
government of the United States in IT'S
dealings with a nation with whom II
has earnestly and cordially sought TO
maintain relations of genuine 1r1eho
shin and good will, and that least OF
all do they desire to do anything that
might impair treaty obligations or
cast a doubt upon the honor and good
faith of the nation and its government.
Il therefore appeal with the utmost
confidence to the people, the COVER
nor and the legislators of California
to act in the matter now under con-
sideration in a manner that canhol
from any point of view be fairly chal-
lenged or called il question.
'If they deem it necessary to ex-
cIude all aliens who have not decIar-
ed their intentions to become citizens
cro.1 the privileges of land owner
ship they can do s. along lines aIready
followed in the laws of many of the
other states and of many foreign
countries including Japan herself.
Insidious discrimination will newt
ably draw in question the treaty OBJ
legations of the government of the
United States.
Registers His Protest.
NV varv and
very respectful protest against dis
crimina ton in this case, not only be-
cause I deem it my duty to do so as
the chief executive of the nation, but
also and the more readily, because L
believe the people and the legislative
authorities of California will generous
" respond the moment the matter is
frankly presented to them as ques-
tion of national policy and of national
honor If they have ignored TINS
point of view, it is, I am sure because
thew did not realize what and how
much was involved.
The California Democrat congress
sional delegation. consisting of Repre-
sentatives Knettner, Raker and
church. called on the president about |
appointments today, but Mr. Wilson |
deferred that subject and Immediately /
took M the alien land situation. Mr..
Raker told the president that if his /
course in appealing to the legislature
proved futile, the outcome might be |
TO bring about a referendum on any /
law passed. The president is said to /
he confident that the people of Cali !
fornia. if they had an opportunity to /
vote on the measure, would not ap- |
prove a law which the federal govern ,
ment pointed out was in violation of |
the treaty obligations.
Todav's telegram to Governor John |
son, which was duplicated to the presi- |
dent of the senate and the speaker of |
the house, was carefully considered i
by Secretary Bryan and members of
the cabinet yesterday The whole |
question was debated again today at |
the cabinet meeting.
Interest and Concern Is Felt.
The degree of interest and concern |
that is felt in official circles of Wash
ington over the Japanese matter can
not be overstated.
1t is a striking fact that the most |
peace-loVing and peace-seeking ad-
of the quarter century is
with the most serious men
ace of international trouble that any
president and cabinet have had with
in that period.
President Wilson is devouring eager
ly everything he can read or hear con
corning the japanese situation
There is not a department of +ba
government just now that does NOT
hold this to be the most imminent and
most pressing question before the
American government and the Aneri
can people.
President Wilson's message in which
he urged in the interests of a neace- |
able solution that California sho1IId |
eliminate the words ineligible to citi- |
zenship from its land law seems TO |
have stirred this sensitive and irrita- |
BILE people. Judging from informa+ion
coming from private and official sources |
japan is aroused toward This |
country as 1t has not been before, and
the United states, between the resolute
states rights spirit of California and
the aggressive sensitiveness of Janan
with Japan than it has been az 80
time since the civil war
Back of the present Japan contro-
versy remains the fact of interna+ion
al knowledge and acceptance ~
Japan is one of the proudest, the vain
est and the most sensitive nations on
earth; that it is inspired to enorrooI,r 90
self confidence by its successive 80 80
victories first over the vaS+
numerical superiority of China and
later by its amazing victory oI,a, +ho |