The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-05-16
ALIEN BILL PASSES
CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ADOPT
MEASURE WHICH is STRONG
LY OBJECTED TO BY JAPAN.
Secretary of State on Behalf of Presi-
dent Wilson Demands That Webb
Law Be Submitted TO the People
for a Vote.

Sacramento, Cal, May 5.-The alien
land ownership bill, previously passed
by the senate by a vote of SO to z,
was adopted by the assembly and
awaits only the signature Of the gov
ernor TO become a law.
Only three votes were cast against
the measure in the lower house. one
Democrat and two Republican mem
bers opposing the bill on the final pas
sage. The roll call was held less than
twenty-four hours after the final pas
sage of the act in the senate.
Bryan Says Farewell.
Secretary of State Bryan concluded
his mission to the governor and leg
islature of California with a message
of farewell. To an open joint session
of the two houses, attended by the
governor, he gave renewed assurances
of the friendly interest and co-opera-
tive attitude of the national admins
tration toward the peculiar problems
of California, transmitting the presi-
dents lates criticism of the alien
land act passed by the state senate
and rehearsing again those objections
already made public.
Secretary Bryan In his address
voiced the presidents opinion that the
words eligible to citizenship" sub
stituted in the California attorney gen.
erals redraft of the alien land meas
ure for the words ineligible to citi-
zenship," are equally discriminatory
and therefore equally Objectionable to
Japan.
If a law must pass he urged that 1t
be limited in it's operation to two
years., in order that meanwhile dip
lomacy might so improve the interna-
tional situation that re-enactment by
the next legislature would be unneces-
sary. This suggestion, which had not
yet reached the president. he said.
was made for the consideration of
those who have yet to act upon the
subject"
Responsibility Extensive.
In summing up, Secretary Bryan
rehearsed the objections and sugges-
tons of the president, already made
public, and concluded:
Having performed the duty i'm
posed upon me by the chief executive
of the nation my work is DONE. You
have listened patiently and courteous
ly and now the responsibility rests up
on you to do what you deem neces
sary, recognizing as you doubtless do
hat you act not only as the represen-
tatives of the state, dealing with lands
lying within the state, but as the rep
re~sentatives of a state occupying a
position among her sister states and
sharing with them an interest in and
responsibility for international rela-
tons.
You are fortunate in this state in
having the initiative and referendum.
The initiative spurs you OIL to do that
which you believe u people want
done, while the referendum empowers
those for whom o speak to put their
veto upon your acts If you fail to re-
feet their wishes. 1t may be assumed
therefore, that If you feel it your duty
TO enact any legislation on his sub
ject at this time your people will
either manifest their approval by ac-
Quiescence or their disapproval by
submitting your action to the judy
ment of the voters by means of the
referendum.
Il leave you with renewed assur-
ances of the presidents friendly con
Germ in the subject with which "
are dealing and my appreciation of
the kind reception which you have &C.
corded me as his spoke sman."