Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-28
CONGRESSMAN slssoN, OF Mis-.
sisslPPI, UPHoLos cALIFoR.
MAS EFFoRTs.
WOULD FIGHT RATHER
THAN SURRENDER RIGHTS
seuthsrne. Sees Msnae, 70 Nation and
Blow 70 State Rights In Aeesdins to
Demands Of Japan-caIifornia Only
Trying to % What Japs Already
Have Done.

California anti-alien land law was de-
livered In the house today by Repre-
sentative sisson. Of Mississippi.
III we must have war or submit to
this indignity, I am for war" cried Mr..
Sisson. Il am with the people Of CAL
lfornia In their efforts to prevent these
aliens from acquiring land"
Il believe" said Mr.. Sission, "that
no nonresident allen should be al
lowed to hold a single foot Of land in
the territory Of the United States.
What would Washington say in an
swer to the question. war or submis-
sion? What would Jackson say? What
would Cleveland say? What would
Mckinley say?
Il resent the efforts Of Japan to
force US to submit to her demands
Mr.. Sisson took the position that tho
was endeavoring to exempt it's citi-
the state.
Blow at state Rights.
"The president and secretary Of
state" said Mr.. Sisson, should only
assure an alien government that q
people Of an alien nation would be
dealt with fairly in accordance with
the law Of the state. Any other position
would lead to the federal government
taking out from the laws Of the state
the citizens Of another nation.
But all citizens or aliens resident
Of a state must be held subject to its
laws and to exempt the alien would
give him privileges over and above
those accorded to American citizens"
Representative Mann. the republican
leader. suggested the. United States
had the constitutional right! to treat
with foreign powers to- secure Tor
American. citizens property rights
abroad and that Mr.. Sisson was con-
tending that the foreign government
did not have q similar right. =.
Nr. Sisson contended that the people
OF California had right to pass laws
regarding aliens holding land as In
their Judgment seemed best when such
laws did not infringe on the federal
constitution. ~
Japan has Done Same Thing.
Mr.. Sisson discussed at length
points of international law involved IN
the dispute and declared that Calf,
fornia was endeavoring to do only
what Japan had already done.
"If Japan now threatens US with war
what would she do when millions OF
her citizens have acquired land IN our
country?" he said. II lay down the
proposition that an alien population
holding land within our borders shouio
be fixed a constant menace.
1--WE must preserve to the American
farmer the right to own the soil OF our
country without competition which
would drag down his standard OF liv-
ing. I would not surrender 1t unless
we had spent the last drop Of blood IN
American manhood and impoverished
our country for hundred generations.
Puts States Above Trsatiss.
Treaty making can never deprive
the states of reserved power" con-
tinued Mr.. Sisson. This California
question is far-reaching and important
in its results Nearly all of the states
have statutes regulating the rights Of
aliens in reference to acquiring real
estate. Nearly every state has$sonie
limitations.
"This democratic administration
should announce with 10 uncertain
tone to the world the doctrine that con.
RreSS proposes 10 TeCOsuAZS lHc IlAhl W
the people of those states to determine
who shall own the land within the state
and that the United States government
will not prevent the states from making
such land laws as they See fit and see
proper providing they do not discrim-
mate against citizens of the United
States.
No End Of Trouble.
"Should the president and senate
commit themselves to any other propo-
sition we shall have international broils
at home and envious international CONS
plications and intermeddiing into our
domestic concerns occasioned by the
constant complaints Of the allen land
owner to his own government.
I accord to Japan all the equal rights
with ourselves. would as quickly
resent a demand from our government,
upon Japan to permit an American ctM-
zen to own land in Japan contrary to
the laws of Japan as I do now resent
Japan's efforts to compel us to submit
to her demands. thinlSFi: the duty of
every loyal citizen Of all our stat1s TO
stand for California and her rieNtS IN
this fight for her own citizens and their
sss-ss &,