New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-29
Democrats Say Coast Moose
Are Playing Game to Make
Colonel a Hero.
ELEVENTH HOUR RESCUE
Official Circles Look for Anti
Japanese Bills to Pass,
Despite Bryan's
Efforts.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

| strongly prevails In ofnclal circles Is
That politics is the chief factor in
the California Japanese situation.
That the anti alien land act will be
passed despite the efforts Of Secretary
Bryan, and
That the hero Of San Juan Hill will
execute a thrilling rescue in the
eleventh hour by inducing Governor
Hiram johnson to veto the bill
Secretary Bryan advised the Presi-
dent to-day that his first step on reach
ing Sacramento had been To confer
| with the Governor and the political
| leaders. and his second 10 address the
Legislature in joint session. as was
| forecast exclusively in these dis
patches. Despite the power OF Mr..
| Bryan's cloquence. the fear is enter
taIned at the white House that the oh
jcctonablc legislation will he passed
| by tho Legislature.
Pleads for Delay
| The burden of Nj. Bryans ora torical
effort to the legislat tors was a plea 10
defer action until the controversy could
! be settled through diplomatic channels.
! II is known that he acted on instruc-
lions from President Wilson. who is
kccnly anxious h. avoid any friction
between the United states and Japan,
although he recognizes that the anti
japanese sentiment IN California. which
| is menace 10 friendly relations be-
! tween the two countries. is powerful.
| II is the hope Of President Wilson
that action by the California Legis-
lature will he deferred long enough 10
permit efforts on the part of the ma
tional government TO test the state
rights" issue IN some less dangerous
way than b, melting the enmity Of
Japan. No plan for test Of this an
cient question has been outlined, hut
! President Wilson realizes that the issue
must be met sooner OF later in view Of
the growing sentiment against Japa-
ncse invasion on the Pacific Coast
| Conservative Democrats dcplore the
suspected political game which IS be-
| ing PLAYED in California at the cost cf
] possible serious consequences involving
an open breach with Japan. If not war.
and are openly asserting that the Fro
gressives are trying hard to embarr@ss
! the Wilson administration and at tn-
same time promote the popularity Of
the Bull Moose chief by having him a7-
pear as tho savior of the nation. when
| the situation assumes its most acute
stage
John Bassett Moore. acting Secre-
tary Of State. declared to-day that
| there had been no developments in
| the situation so FAR as the Japanese
government vas concerned. He SAID
that Ambassador Chinda was standing
on his original protest and had made
no new representations or inquiries
about the proposed Objectionable meas
ure. He further stated that no word
had been received by the Department
Of state from Mr.. Bryan intimating
that the latter was doing business d.
rect with President Wilson.
The President is awaiting further
advices from California with keenost
interest
Expressly Forbidden.
The constitution Of the state of CALI
fornia prohibits precisely what the
President and the Secretary Of State
are seeking 10 accomplish IN California,
according TO Cslifornians in this city.
The suggestion has been made ~ the
White House that the California Legis-
lature should enact legislation prohlD-
iting ownership Of land by all foreign
ers who have not declared their pur-
pose to become citizens Of the United
States. Al the State Department re-
Gently it was declared that "A measure
prohibiting land ownership 10y all for
eigners and then eXemptng those " no
had taken the preliminary step toward
naturalization would meet the Difficult
ties in which the federal government
had found Itself
| Californians pointed out however,
that such legislation would be clear
| violation of the constitution Of their
state. Section IL, Article /, Of the
Constitution OF California provides
that:
Foreigners OF the white race o. Of Az
| rican descent. eligible TO become citizens
| Of Tho nited states under the natlraiza-
tiou laws thereto while bonaftde resi-
| dents OF his state, shall have the same
! rights in respect TO the acquisition, pos
| session. enjoyment. transmission and in
heritance OF property as native born cit-
! Zcns.
/ II is learned at the Department OF
State that when Secretary Bryan lett
Washington for California he was uu-
aware of this constitutional provision.
as indeed were other officials OF that
department until ii was called To their
attention to-day. The fear is eX-
pressed. therefore. that Mr.. Bryan may
run up against a stone wall in the
plan he is understood to have pur-
posed offering as the most practicable
method OF solving the present difficulty.
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