The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-05-05
Referendum May Hold Up the Law
For More Than a
Year.
WILSON TO ISSUE STATEMENT
Rumored That japanese Will Take
Exception to California
: Legislature.

Sacramento, CAL, May 5.-William
Jennings Bryan is now on his way to
Washington after an unsuccessful
attempt to persuade the California
Legislature from enacting an alien
law which prohibits Chinese and
japanese from owning land in the
state of California. The bill over
whelmingly passed both houses and
is now up to Governor Johnson to af-
fix his signature thereto, to make it
law Of that state. = :. - - s...''.
Apparently the only contingency
that can arise to prevent the carry
ing out of the bills provisions within
approximately ninety days is the
threatened referendum petition,
which would require 10000 sigma
lures before the law could be tenn
porarily nulitied, pending an election.
The matter could not be submitted to
the people until the fall of 1914
delay of nineteen months, in case the
proposed referendum petition gains
enough signers. +.
Theorists in the Canfornia-Japan-
/ esq situation is near. Secretary
Bryan, special envy of President
Wilson, is speeding eastward, accord
ing to advices received at the White
House He is due here Thursday at
10:40 a. m. Mr.. Bryan will proceed
Immediately to the executive Offices
and report in person exactly all that
has happened since he was ordered
west. He will supplement verbally
the voluminous kilograms already
sent. He will tell the president
frankly, it is understood, that the
new California law violates the spirit,
if not the letter, of the existing
treaty with Japan.
. The president is prepared to act.
He has mapped out his plan of cam
spaign. Only he himself knows it's de-
tails. But he will let it be emphati-
cally known that the national gov
eminent is behind all existing trea-.
ties with all nations and that: they
will be respected as long as they re-
main in existence. :
Powerful interests, including San
Francisco mercantile and exposition
organizations, will invoke the refer
endum to ward of the day of evil, as
they are pleased to call it. 1t requires
only about 10000 signatures of vot-
ers to perfect petition. Once these
are procured, the bill will be held up
until the state election, eighteen
months hence If the people then
give their approval to the bill it will
become effective by virtue of their
dictum at the polls. Exposition peo-
pie by resorting to the referendum,
hope to win generous participation of
the Japanese in the big show OF 1915.
The merchants of Sacramento and In
'fluential business and commercial In
terests elsewhere lin the state expect
to avert the reprisals which it is de-
clared here the Japanese would take
If the Webb alien land bill should be-
come operative as law in the normal
course of legislative procedure-with-
in three months.
Stories of these prospective repris-
ais are current in the capitol here.
Among other things, it has been rep
resented that Japan is in q mood to
withdraw its intention to be repre-
scented In large way in the exposi-
ton, il the action Of this legislature
Els permitted to become effective now.
Another fear OF San Franciscans
arises from an alleged japanese threat
to divert commerce and shipping from
the Golden Gate port to Seattle. It is
said that japanese interests also have
temporarily suspended arrangements
to. establish a steamship line between
Yokoha ANA and San Diego. With these
several dangers as a motive for &C
ton, 1t will be the easiest thing in
the world to perfect the referendum
petition and thus prevent the bill
from becoming law for a year and
"a half, II not for all time.
Bryan Makes Final Plea.
S. Making final plea to the Califor-
.-- 7Confinued % last paSo)