Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-21
A SURVEY OF THE ALIEN LAND LAW BILL

ton TO The Hague is the sanest as well as the
most competent plan yet proposed. 1t will prob
ably be Japans stand and not unlikely that OF
the federal administration in case Japan per
sists in regarding the bill now pending in Cali
fornia as violation of her treaty rights with
the United States
While President Wilson may caution Cali
fornia not to violate the provisions Of the treaty
it seems quite plain that he is not going to WELD
the big stick in the manner made familiar by
President Roosevelt when he was confronted by
a somewhat similar situation. In fact, condi
tons have changed since Roosevelt interfered
with CALIFORNIA; legislature. Not only is there
a president representing that party which en-
phasizes states rights, but Wilson's personal in
clinations are to put confidence in the ability
and intelligence of properly constituted bodies
and officials Furthermore he may well recog
nize the exceedingly strong antiAsiatic senti
ment that has been fostered in California by the
Asiatic Exclusion league and the trades-unions
and that has grown throughout the farming com
munities where the perseyering japanese have
found their way. Even should Wilson call off
the legislature, it is not improbable that enact
ment of the law by the initiative would be pro
posed and not impossible that this method would
carry. State Senator Sanford, one of the au.
thors Of the bill, has telegraphed to Washington
that the sentiment of the people is five to one in
favor of the alien land law and that if the legis
lature does not enact it, the people will resort to
the initiative. A press bureau for the land law
movement is in active operation with A. E. Yo
ell, a leader in the Asiatic Exclusion league, in
tistics as these: "That there are in California
$4,000 japanese, 10000 Chinese and 1000 other
Asiatics The Japanese own 321 farms, contain
ing II, 126 acres in thirty counties of the state;
the increase is 1000 acres 21S pieces of property
and 100 per cent in valuation. Other purchases
have been recently made, but there are no rec
ords in nineteen counties
'sThe Chinese own 152 acres of land City
property assessed at 100000 is owned by 126
Chinese. In March, 1899, there were 2S2 leases
to Japanese recorded. In March, 1912, there
were $40 leases recorded for 2O,294 acres. This
is an increase of 1000 acres, with hundreds of
leases unrecorded."
The California legislators insist that the lat
est draft of the proposed law, the substitute
measure now before the legislature, cannot pos
sibly endanger the sacredness of the treaty be-
tween the United States and Japan The point
has been raised in Honolulu as well as in Japan
and Washington, that to put the law into effect
would amount to confiscation of property. This
is fatty denied in Sacramento. Senator Thomp-
son, who was active in drafting the latest meas
ure, has issued this statement as to its meaning
"Nothing in the committee substitute for the
Birdsall bill can be construed as affecting the
present holdings of any aliens, regardless of
their right to become citizens.
NO confiscation is planned, and the Japan
csc have been misinformed as to our intentions.
Land now held byaliens may be retained forever,
for all that this bill is concerned.
"The only restrictions are on land to be ac-
guired hereafter, whether ~ lease or purchase,
gift, devise or otherwise. The bill limits future
leases to three years duration, and ownership to
one year This is regarded as ample time for an
alien to dispose of such property without loss
"The rights 'of any alien to citizenship will
not affect his status SO far as ownership of land
is concerned All aliens will be treated alike
under this act, for it has been drawn to apply
equally to Japanese, German or English sub
jects, or the subjects of any other foreign ma
ton,
The question has been raised here and else
where as to the status of aliens in Japan Ac-
cording to the latest information, aliens cannot
hold land in Japan now Although the old laws
of Japan against foreign ownership have been
abrogated, the imperial edict necessary to put
. i. -