Gilpin observer., 1913-05-08
OVER WARNING TO CALIFORNIA
ASSEMBLY BY SECRETARY
OF STATE BRYAN.
JAPAN ORDERS PROTEST
REFERENDUM TO BE INVOKED
TO PREVENT WAR CRISIS
WHEN BILL Is SIGNED.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

Sacramento, Calif., May 5.-Four
hours after Secretary of State Bryan
left for Washington the Assembly
passed the alien land bill with all the
features obnoxious to Japan which
President Wilson has sought so
strongly to prevent.
The bill now goes to Governor
Johnson. He has announced that he
will sign 1t after giving Bryan and
Wilson reasonable time" to make q
final plea against it.
Japan Is expected to be inflamed
by the passage of tho. measure. be-
cause the Nipponese feel that 1t at
tacks their national honor. CHASING
them as an Inferior race.
President Wilson and his advisers
have not concealed their fear that war
cannot be averted If the measure
goes into effect. because of the fiery
temper OF the Japanese people.
AS the efforts Of Bryan and Will
sons administration have been de-
fsated in preventing its passage, all
opponents Of the law including the
4N0|AOh0A CdS0 oOSACLyp WAL oiACSN
their energies to delay its going into
effect.
The purpose of the delay is to per
NIT time for diplomatic negotiations
which will salve the feelings of Japan
and prevent fiery outburst which
Is most likely to lead to war.
The main hope of the peace advo-
Gates is in the referendum law which
would make a delay long enough for
the two nations to compromise their
differences. II this is possible.
Secretary Bryan declared that he
looked to the people of the state to
express final judgment through the
referendum, before the act shall go
into effect.
Mr.. Bryan's statement was made be-
fore an open joint meeting of the
Senate and Assembly. Immediately
before his departure for Washington.
The Assembly, which was even then
in the midst Of its debate on the land
bill. paused for half an hour to hear
him, and then took up it's work OF
following the Senate's lead
Provisions Of the Bill.
The principal provisions of the Webb
anti-alien land-holding bill are as fol-
lows:
1.-Aliens eligible to citizenship
may acquire and hold land to the
same extent as citizens.
All other aliens are limited to
the specific rights conferred upon
them by the existing treaties between
the United States and the nations OF
which such aliens are citizens or sub
jects. In the case Of the Japanese the
bill prohibits ownership Of farming OF
agricultural lands, while permitting
them to own residences and factories
manufactures and shops.
3.-Leases of agricultural lands by
aliens are permitted for a period not
exec eding three years.
4.-Aliens ineligible to citizenship
cannot inherit land. Upon the death
OF an alien land holder. his property
shall be sold by the Probate Court
and the proceeds distributed to his
heirs.
5.-The state specifically reserves
its sovereign tight to enact any and
all laws in future with respect to the
acquisition of real property by aliens.
6.-Present holdings Of ineligible
aliens are not affected, except that
they cannot be bequecthed, or sold to
other aliens classified among those
not eligible to citizenship.
Washington.-The Japanese gov.
ernment has ordered a formal pro-
test against the alien land bill enact
ed by the California Legislature. &C.
cording to a dispatch from Toxic.
Tokio.-Contracts havo been placed
for the construction in Japanese yards
of three dreadnoughts. They will be
be sister ships to the Fuso, the dis
placement of which is 10000 tons.