Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-05-17
JOHNSON TO SIGN
ALIEN LAND ACT
Governor TeIegraphS His De.
CisiOn to Bryan
DEEMS IT DUTY TO PEOPLE
California Executive Reviews Measure
Complained Of by Japan and Cites
Treaty Fights.

Treaty Fights.
Expressing his determination to sign
the alien land bill recently passed hy
the legislature Governor Hiram "
johnson. OF California. telegraphed I'll
Secretary OF State Bryan a long az
PLANTATION OF the action taken by the
legislature.
The message was To answer 10 "a
request teiegraphed to the governor
by Secretary Bryan. az the direction
OF President Wilson. that the bill be
vetoed.
The governor. among other thing
says that the occupying OF agii "a.
tura lands by Orienials and foreigners
ineligible to citizenship was Tor many
years a grave problem IN California.
problem not fully understood in the
east. Continuing. he says
I'm the phraseology OF this bill. in
those whom 1t affects. in its scope and
in its purpose. we believe We are with
in our legal and our moral rights. and
that we are doing only what Is i'm.
peratively demanded for the protection
and preservation OF our state
I'm this enactment we have kept
ever in mind our national good faith
as evidenced by existing treaties: AMI
our desire and anxiety have been TO
act only in such fashion as would
commend us to our sister states and
would justify us to our fellow coun
trymen
The protest 10 our measure. as your
telegram states. comes from the rep
resentative of Japan The bill that is
now before me provides substantially
in its first sections that all aliens eli
gible to citizenship under the laws Of
the United States may acquire real
property In the same manner as ci'i
zens of the United States. and the sec
ond section provides that all aliens
other than those mentioned In the first
section may acquire real property in
the manner and TO the extent and for
the purpose prescribed by any treaty
now existing between the government
of the United States and the nation
or country OF which such aliens are
citizens or subjects. and may in ad H.
ton lease for period Of three years
lands for agricultural purposes.
Thus we have made existing treat.
les a part OF our law, and thus we
have preserved every right that any
foreign nation by international con
tract has insisted upon preserving with
our national government
we of California believe firmly that
in our legislative dealings with this
alien land question we have violated
absolutely no treaty rights. We have
shown no discrimination we have
given to no nation the right to be jus.
tilted in taking offense
$50. with a strong reliance on the
justice and the righteousness Of our
cause. and with due Difference ami
courtesy ana with proper consideration
for the feelings and the views Of 9th
ers-we had hoped III authorities at
Washington would have seen the ques
ton as we in this state have beer
forced to see lt--as we must see II OIL
be blind
You have suggested to me DELAY.
but this question was very earnesil
and fully presented by you 70 on
legislature. and the legislature deter
mined to proceed My province is al
approve or dlsapprove the law as pre-
sented. Our people. as represented I'M
the legislature. have overwhelmingly
expressed their desire for the presen'
alien land bill. The vote in the senat,
was 80 TO .. and in the assembly III
TO g. With such unanimity OF opinion
even did hold other views. would
feel It my plain duty TO sign the bill
unless some absolutely controlling ne
cesisty demanded contrary action
1T is with the highest respect fol
yourself and the president that fec
II my duty to the state compels me Il
approve the action of the legislature.