Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-04-30
BRYAN BROUGHT NO NEW IDEA.
Admits Right to Bar, But Urges
Elimination of Discrimination.

Sacramento, Cal, April 2S.-A day
of conferences between Secretary
Bryan and Governor Johnson and
members of the California Legisla-
ture over proposed a%nti-alien land
laws ended tonight when the confer
ence adjourned to await replies to
messages sent to Washington to-
night by Mr.. Bryan.
The impression prevailed here
when the conference adjourned that
the resolution of the majority lead
ers previously announced to enact a
bill specifically %debarring ''aliens in
eligible to citizenship" from owing
lands in California remained un-
changed, although Mr.. Bryan advised
strongly against such action. Cover
nor johnson indicated this in a brief
address to the conference. He de-
clared CALIFORNIA; right to follow the
lead of other States in framing the
lane bill vas unquestioned and said
such action nov seemed assured.
Il have presented the Presidents
views as l understand them" de-
clared Mr.. Bryan to the conference
Just before it adjourned. Tonight
l shall submit to him the further
questions you have asked me, calling
attention to the statutes OF Washing
ton and Arizona, and / shall be pre-
pared tomorrow, / hope, to give you
his answer
California in the fullness OF her
right as a State may enact a rigid
land law barring OrientaIs from
ownership, but such action would be
against the earnest wish of the ma
tional administration"
This Is h substance Of the mes
sage William Jennings Bryan, Secre-
tary Of State and personal represen-
tative Of President Wilson, delivered
to-day to a secret conference attend
ed by Governor Johnson, Lieut.-Gov-
ernor Wallace and the 100 members
of the California Legislature.
Secretary Bryan arrived in Sacra-
mento at 6 o'clock this morning.
With his consent plans were laid for
an immediate hearing, and shortly
after IL o'clock the first session Of
the conference began. Until the
doors OF the assembly chamber were
closed and locked Secretary Bryan
refused to give an inkling of his mes
sage to any one, and ven at the con-
terence he spoke only after legisla-
tors had explained fully the public
demand for alien land legislation
that brought about the present stu
alton.
No New Theory.
Those who expected Secretary
Bryan to eXpound a new theory of
State rights were disapp ointed, as
were those who expected predictions
of war. Advice, in the name of
President Wilson, was all Bryan had
to offer, and the paramount question
Is whether such advice will over
come the previously announced de-
termination of the Progressive Re-
publican majority to enact an anti
alien la%nd-holding law along lines al
ready agreed upon.
Secretary Bryan reafirmed the
States rights to act in a manner it
saw fit, but suggested several sub
stitutes for the passage OF a bill re-
stricting aliens Ineligible to citi-
Z%enship,' basing his reasons on the
broad foundation Of public policy.
Briefly, these substitutes in the or
der in which they were suggested are
as follows:
I. Delay immediate action and al
low the State Department to try to
accomplish the ends desired by means
OF a new treaty with Japan.
2. Delay immediate action and APP
point a commission to investigate the
subject OF alien land ownership, and
act in conjunction with the President
in securing relief.
3. Enact a law similar to the stat
ute OF Illinois, which permits aliens
to hold land for a period not exceed
Ing six years, and applies alike to all
aliens.
A. Enact a law similar to the ex-
listing statute governing land owner
ship in the : District of Columbia,
which is a general law applying to all
aliens. .s,Ei..l