New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-27
Those Familiar with Alien Land
Legislation Predict No
Change in Situation
from His Visit.
BILLS MAINLY PARTISAN
Progressive Aggrandizement
Aided by Messages from
Roosevelt - Economic
Features of Little Mo-
ment at Sacramento.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune.

By Telegraph to The Tribune
San Francisco. April 2G.-No one
familiar with the California anti-alien
land law situation believes that the ad
vent of Secretary Of State Bryan will
materially affect tie status Of opinion.
At Sacramento and throughout Cali
fornia Mr.. Bryan's mission is generally
regarded in its political aspects rather
than as n move tina. may be expected
to determine the action of the Cali
fornia Legislature. Certain ii is tat
the politicians Of all partisan colors are
man9uving TO make the most possible
capital out Of Secretary Fryans visit.
The chronology of the anti-alien land
agitation in California is illuminative
of that phase of the situation:
The anti alien land ownership move
nent was launched by organized labor,
a potent political force in California.
Organized labor as such has had
numerically strong representation in
the California Legislature for six years.
Labor's legislative representatives
forced the issue concreteIv little
more than four years ago.
The Democratic nninorities in both
houses Of the California. Legislature
were prompt to avail themselves Of tho
political advantages the situation at
forded them.
Roosevelt Drawn In.
With the representatives Of organ
lied labor, who held their legislative
seats as Republicans, the Democrats
were enabled to make a showing so
formidable that President Roosevelt
was drawn into the fight. first, in oppo.
siton TO a segregation bill.
Baited by the Democrats. President
Roosevelt finally threatened with the
coercive power Of the federal military
department. The insistence Of the
President and the efforts OF the Gov
ernor and Republican state oraaniza.
ton resulted in stiffening up party
lines and the defeat Of the offensive
legislation on strict party lines.
That equipped the Democrats with
effective campaign ammunition. They
and organized labor made anti Jap
anese legislation an issue Of tho sue
ceeding campaign.
Again a Democratic minority in the
Legislature forced the Republican hand
and compelled President Taft to take
a hand in the fight to prevent the en-
actment Of an anti alien land owner.
ship law.
The situation was then changed
somewhat. in that the legislative ma
jority, while nominaIIy Republican. was
in fact Progressive and responsive to
the wishes Of a Progressive Governor,
Hiram w. Johnson.
Governor johnson deferred to the
wishes Of President Taft. Again tho
partisan lines were drawn, and despite
the proteststions Of the Democratic
minority Progressives and old line Re-
pubIicans united to defeat tho proposed
legislation.
Meanwhile rural California as rep
resented by the people OF the great San
Joaquin and Sacramento valleys had
become alarmed over japanese farm.
garden and orchard land invasion.
That alarm was sensed by Progrcssives
and Republicans as thoroughly as IL
was appreciated by the Democrats.
Anti-aIien land legislation became the
most popular campaign pledge OF cam
didates for legislative office and in one
form or another was incorporated into
the platforms of the Progressive, Re-
publican and Democratic parties.
From johnson Attorneys.
When the Legislature convened there
was a race for priority in the intro
duction Of anti-alien land bills. Lead
ing Progressives and leading Demo-
Gratis participated in the scramble. 1t
is an open secret tat one Of the most
discussed bills was prepared by at
torneys closely associated with Gov
ernor Johnsons office.
The Progressive party was and is in
control of both houses Of the Legis- |
lature. The Democrats had been clam
oring fc.. years for anti-alien legisla-
ton. They were clamoring for 1t when |
President Wilson went into office. The |
most drastic Of all the pending meas
ures bore the name Of the Democratic |
national committeeman from Cali |
fornia. Senator John Il. Sanford.
The Progressives and the Republi-
cans committed as completely as were
the Democrats to anti-alien land own
ership legislation. glihpsed the politi-
cal possibilities Of the situation and |
delayed action to enable !
President Wilson and the Democratic |
party to assume the roles formerly |
assumed by Presidents Roosevelt and |
Taft and the Republican party. The |
purpose OF their delay. and none pre-
tend il had any other purpose, has
been accomplished.
When the coming Of Mr.. Bryan was |
the Democrats in the low
er house of the California Legislature |
attempted to secure a legislative in |
yitation to the Democratic Governors
OF Washington and Oregon to partici- |