Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-28
Seer etaTy Ready to Enter
Into Conferences at
Sacramento.
INT IRRATIONAL ISSUE
Representative SiSSon of Miss
iSSippi for War in Prefer
enCe 10 Submission.

Sacramento, Cal, April 2S.-Secre-
tary Bryan arrived this morning TO
confer with Governor Johnson and the
legislators upon proposed anti-land
holding laws No advance plans of
the proposed conference had been
made. As he stepped from the train
Bryan said he had left the matter en-
tirely in the hands of the governor.
OFFICIAL MESSAGE HEARD.
An hour after Bryan's arrival the
governor announced he would call the
two houses of the legislature togeth-
er in Joint executive session. 1egin-
ming at II this morning, for the pur-
pose OF allowing Bryan to deliver his
official message. The meeting was
called at the request of Bryan, the
governor said.
time at the governors home, arrange
ments have been made for Bryan to
have an office at the capitol building.
where he will be accessible to callers.
Bryan made the following statement:
Il am listing California at the re-
quest OF the president and the consent
OF the Legislature, 10 confer upon an
important matter which, while local
in It's immediate effect, is international
in character.
STATE IN DUAL POSITION.
Each state occupies a dual posi-
tion. While it is guardian of its do
nestle affairs, IL is a member of the
union and therefore interested in all
that concerns the nations relations
WITH the outside world. The president
asked me to come to California TO con-
fer with the governor and legislators
upon such phases of the subject as
touch the nations relations with other
nations. Coming on such a mission
it would be obviously improper to say
anything in advance upon questions
which may enter the conference"
sIssON IN WAR SPEECH.
Washington. D. c.. April 2S.-A war
speech" in support of the proposed
California anti-alien land law was de-
liyered in the house today by Repre-
sentative Sisson of Mississippi.
'If we must have war or submit to
this indignity, | am for war" cried
Sisson Il am with the people Of Cali
fornia in their efforts to prevent these
aliens from acquiring land"
Mann, republican, suggested that the
United States had a constitutional
right TO treat with foreign powers and
secure for American citizens property
abroad. and that Sissonn was contend
ing that foreign government did not
have a similar right. Sisson contend
ed that the people of California had
the right to pass laws regarding alien
holding of land as to their judgment
seemed best, when such laws did not
infringe the federal constitution.
"I believe" said Sisson, that no
nonresident alien should be allowed
to hold a single foot OF land in the
territory of the United States. What
would Washington say in answer to
the question, War or submission" !"
What would Jackson say? What would
Cleveland say? What would McKin-
ley say?
force us TO submit to its demands"
Sisson took the position that the
Japanese government. in protesting
against alien land legislation. was
endeavoring TO exempt its citizens
from the operation OF the laws of
states.
PRIVILEGE ABOVE CITIZEN.
The president and secretary Of
state" said Sisson, should only as
sure an alien government that people
Of an alien nation would be dealt with
fairly in accordance with the law of
the state Any other position would
lead TO the federal government taking
out from under the laws OF the states
the citizens of another nation. But all
citizens or alien residents in state
must be held subject TO its laws. and
TO exempt an alien would be TO give
him privileges over and above those
accorded American citizens"
CONSTANT MENACE SEEN.
II Japan now threatens US with
war" Sisson continued, what would
she do when millions OF her citizens
have acquired land in our country?
lay down the proposition than an alien
population holding land within our
borders would be a fixed and constant
menace
we must preserve TO the American
farmer the right 10 own the soil Of ouT
country without competition which
would drag down the standard Of Iv'
inc. would not surrender !, unless
We had spent The last drop Of blood Of