The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-04-25
SAYS CALF ORN|A
IS WITHIN ITS
JURISDICTION
Gov. Johnson Claims Discrimina.
ton Is Against State
NATION HAS DRAWN LINE
United States Has Decreed that Jap
anese Are Not Entitled to
Citizenship.
NATION HAS DRAWN LINE

Sacramento, Calf, April ga
statement by Gov. Johnson, setting
forth his views on the alien land con-
troversy, was issued from the execu'
tive offices yesterday. Gov. Johnson
does not attempt to predict that any
law will be enacted at this season bar
ring Japanese or the subject of any
other nations, nor, if so, what KIND
of law it will be, but merely asserts
there is no cause to single out Cali
fornia as the object of such unprece-
denied action by the authorities at
Washington.
He says in part: THE suggestion
of the president that the secretary of
state visit me for conferences on the
pending land bills was at once accept
ed by both houses of the Legislature
and by the governor, and we will be
glad to welcome Mr.. Bryan. While
the Legislature very properly main
tanned the right of the state to legis-
late on matter clearly within its
jurisdiction, | am sure there is no dis
position to encroach on the interna-
tional function of the federal govern
ment or justly to wound the sensibili-
ties of any nation.
my protest has been against the
discrimination to which California has
been subjected in the assumption that
action which has been accepted with
out demur when taken by other states
and by the nation, is offensive If even
discussed by California. ] am not pre-
dieting the California Legislature will
take any action on this subject, nor,
if il does, forecasting the terms of any
law which may be entered. | am mere
" defending the right of California to
consider and, If its legislators deem
advisable, to enact a law which is
clearly within both its legal power
and its moral right.
Much has been said of the dignity
of Japan. We would not willingly af-
front the dignity of Japan nor offend
its pride. But what shall be said of
the proposition that a great state. it
self an empire, of possibilities greater
than those of most nations, shall be
healted from the mere consideration
of a legislative act, admittedly within
its Jurisdiction, by the protest of a
foreign power which has itself enact
ed even more stringent regulations on
the subject? What Of the dignity of
California?
Admittedly. California has a right
to pass an alien land bill. No one sug-
gests that such bill should in terms
describe the Japanese. 1t has been
suggested that such a law in Cali
fornia shall follow distinctions which
are already an unprotected part of the
law and policy of the United States.
THE United States has determined
who are eligible to citizenship. The
nation has solemnly decreed that GER
tain races. among whom are the Japa-
nese, are not eligible to citizenship.
The line has been drawn, not by Cal
ifornia, but by the United States. Dis
elimination, IL 1t ever occurred. came
and went when the nation declared
who were and who were not eligible
to citizenship. If California contin-
ues the line marked out by the feder-
al government, the United States. and
not California, should be accused of