St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1913-05-03
CALIFORNIA IS
ASKED TO GO
SLOW
Bryan Takes Message Giving
Wishes Of President In
Matter of Alien Law
Message Delivered in Secret
Session Of Governor and
120 Legislators

Sacramento, Cal, April 28,-Cali
fornia, in the fullness of her right a
a state, may enact rigid land Law
barring Orientals from ownership
but such action would be against tn,
earnest wish of the national admins
tration.
This is the 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 only by Governor johnson, Lieu
tenant Governor Wallace and 12(
members of the California Legisla
ture.
Secretary Bryan arrived in sacra.
mento at s o'clock this morning
With his consent plans were laid TO,
an immediate hearing, and shortly
after IL O'Clock the first session OF
the conference began
Behind Locked Doors.
Until the doors of the Assembly
chamber were closed and locked Sec
rotary Bryan refused to give an ink
ling Of his message to anyone, and
even at the conference he spoke onl,
after legislators had explained full,
the public demand for alien land
legislation that brought about the
present situation.
Those who expected Secretary
Bryan to expound new theory Of
states rights were disappointed, as
were those who expected predictions
of war. Advice in the name of Pres
ident Wilson was all Mr.. Bryan had
to offer, and the paramount question
here tonight is whether such advice
will overcome the previously an
nounced determination of the Pro
gressive-Republican majority to en-
act an antialien land-holding law
along lines already agreed upon.
Admits States Rights.
Secretary Bryan reaffirmed the
states rights to act in manner it
saw fit, but suggested several al,
ternatives to the passage of bill re-
stricting aliens ineligible to citizen
ship" basing his reasons ON the
broad foundation of public policy
Briefly, these alternatives, in the or
der in which they were suggested, are
rs follows:
First-Delay immediate action and
allow the State Department to try
to accomplish the ends desired by
means of new treaty with Japan.
SecOnd-Delay immediate actor
and appoint a commission to investi-
gate the subject of alien land own
ership and act in CONJUNCTION with the
president in securing relief.
Outcome is in Doubt.
Third-Enact a law similar to the
statute of Illinois, which permits
aliens to hold land for a period not
exceeding six years, and applies alike
to all aliens
Fourth-Enact law similar to thu
Federal statute governing land own
ership in the District of Columbia
which is a general law applying to
all aliens
OF these alternatives, it may be
safely said. according to leaders in
the Legislature, that the last two
are out of the question. Many Dem
ocrats favor turning the matter over
to the State Department, while thu
Progressive-Repub majority ap
parently remains unchanged in its
support of bill that would apply it
restrictions to Orientals alone.
Asks for Information.
The conference with Secretary
Bryan served to show the breadth OF
sentiment in favor of an alien land
law that shall be effective in check
ing the Japanese and Chinese immi
grafton. A dozen or more senators
and assemblymen declared the people
of the state were almost unit In
such a law, and it was
threatened that unless the Legisla-
ture act at this time the matter would
be taken up through the initiative
and passed by the people themselves
The conference opened with Lieu |
tenant Governor Wallace in the
chair and Secretary Bryan seated |
with Governor johnson and Speaker
c. C. Young. of the Assembly, on tho
platform. Secretary Bryan was in
Produced, and in a brief statement
asked the conference to tell him the
exact situation. |
Interested i'm Methods.
81 was sent to Sacramento at the
of President Wilson, said
Mr. Bryan, ito consult with the gov
.rnor and the members Of the Legis-
ature on the pending alien land legis
alton. l am more interested in the
Methods to be employed than in the
md to be attained, and ! would be
,leased to hear suggestions from any
Il you before speaking further
Senator Boynton. administration
loor leader. thanked Mr.. Bryan on
,ehalf of the Legislature for his visit
Ie then outlined the situation for the
isitor, saying in part:
Eat the time President Wilson's
elegram was received lat week an !
ouncing the wish to send Secretary
f state Bryan to confer with this
legislature there We're two bills or I
MS subject before the Senate.
For Secret Confer ence. I,
at was apparent that the people /
I the State were strongly in favor OF {
,e enactment of an alien land law $
nd such law probably would have '
zen passed before this time II 1t 9
id not been for the telegram from
Ie president. At his request VIC !
further consideration O