The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-04-26
TREATIES SUPREME,
SAYS JAPAN SOCIETY
Gives Support to President in
Maintaining Honor
Of Nation.
PROMINENT MEN SPEAK
japanese Fighting for Equal
ity. Says Manila
Editor.

The land bill now before the CALI
fornia Legislature was condemned
warmly at "A meeting of the Japan So
Ciety yesterday. The feeling against
the measure shown by the various
speakers was evidenced by the follow
ing resolution, "A copy of which was sent
to President wilson:
Deeply impressed by the gravity OF
the issue raised by the proposal Of the
California Legislature to enact measures
which ignore the treaty obligations OF
the United States and which are d.
rected against "A friendly nation which
has scrupulously observed It's engage
ments to this country, the executive
committee tof the Japan Society to-
day resolved that 1t support the iresi-
dent in all hc is doing to MAINTAIN
the honor of the nation"
The speakers We're Franklin n. Fort
former Governor Of New Jersey. Will
lam Bayard Hale. associate editor of
Worlds Work. DR.. Arthur Brown. sec
rotary Of the United Board of Foreign
Missions. Martin EEar. editor OF the
Manila Times: Isaac y. SelIgman Will
lard D. Straight and Lindsay Russell
Messages alro were read from David
Starr Jordan. president Of Leland stan
ford rnivvrsi'y Charles W. Eliot, An
drew Carnegie. Jacob H. Schiff, Seth
Low and Lloyd G. Grlscom.
Dr. Jordan ,elegraphcd as follows:
"Hill prohibiting land holding Of aliens
ineligible 70 citizenship would pass i'm
mediatol! and Governor would sign.
Rryan's proposed visit means postpone
al l.l, SChTf
Most. but not ali. Intelligent sentiment
opposed TO anti-Japanrse legislation. ii
bill passes matter should he settled
once for all in Federal courts. Seems
absolutely certain no State has juris-
dction In discriminating against aliens
No State can maxi foreign alliance nor
have foreisn quarrel
/ Or. Eliot characterized the California
law as "tht result of local se!h-hness
and exciuslveness. combined with !g-
norance OF the Japanese people. Of the
real wishes of the Japanese Govern
mont and Of the existing conditions OF
: international competition" Mr.. car
negie was inclined To take more OPP
tlmistlc view and advised against un-
due excitement. japan and our re-
public have been and are friends and
mean always 10 remain so,' h" tele-
graphed california Is not less loya
20 the Union than her sister States"
Ex-Gov. Fort. after expressing his
faith in Presldcn, Wilson and praisinl
/ the Presidents action In sending Secre-
tary Bryan TO California, said
There are no state lines under ths
treaty power. y state has nothing =
say as TO II and 'ts territory Is In NJ
I way inviolat. against its provisions. A'
to- treaty power IN" states yielded every
thing that relates to the making OF gov
enrmen.al Compacts with other nations
as To- rights guaranteed 10 citizens ol
subjects uf a foreign nation while
2 within their boundaries, 10 questions as
To- aliens holding title 10 lands ant
/ the right Of disposition thereof To qucs
tions Of privileges and immunit!os %
Foreigners while temporarily here nl
when domcil.d in any state ~ th'
. United states"
Mr. Hale pointed ou' that the Japa
nesc population II California has de
creased greatly IN recent Years.
There were more than $4,000 Jara
nese in California in 1905" said he
while now there are but $4,000. TIL,
total anohnt of land owned ~ th'
japanese is less than l2.00O acres Mos
" this land too was barren and artC
when they took possession Of II, They
have irrigated and cultivated It an'
made It valuable. Instead of being II
any way injurious TO the community
they have by their efforts created
wealth"
According 10 Martin Egan, editor o
. a. -
years In the Philippines and Japan, th'
present controversy has at least one
redeemlng feature in that II present.
an opportunity for settling the ques
ton involved once and for all. He con
tinued:
They are fighting FOR equality an,
fair treatment among the other nations
of the earth. and the desire for equality
and equal place among the Powers %
the world has been the handspring o
everything they have done in the las
quarter of century. No Japanese Gov
ernMent can or will write a treaty will
any other Power Of the world in which
it writes It's people down as inferior"
Isaac n. Seligman was Of the opinion
that most Of the antagonism agains
the Japanese in California has beer
brought about and exercised by labo
unions.
Others who attended the meetins
were Hamilton Holt. editor Of the Inde
pendent. william North Duane. G. Van
dcrhilt Barton, Prof Samuel T Duttor
OF Columbia, u. j. r. rshikuho, man
ager Of Yamanaka & CO.; *. Scko, man
ager OF Mitsui & Co: r w. Lafrentz
| Henry CleWs Howard Mansfield an,