Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-29

Secretary Bryan arrived in Sacramento
at o'clock and shortly after III O'Clock
the first session of the conference began.
Until the doors OF the assembly cham
Der were closed and locked Secretary
Bryan refused to give any linking of his
message to any one.
Secretary Bryan reaffirmed the state s
right to act in a manner it saw fit. but
suggested several alternatives to the
passage of a bill restricting aliens in
eligible to citizenship basinS mis- rea-
sons on the broad foundation of public
policy.
Alternatives offered.
Briefly, these alternatives in the order
IN which they were suggested are as fol-
lows:
delay immediate action and allow
the State Department to try to accom-
plish the ends desired by means of a
new treaty with Japan.
Delay immediate action and appoint
commission to investigate the subject
of alien land ownership and act in con-
junction with the President in securing
relief
3-Enact a law similar to the statute
i'm Illinois, which permits aliens to hold
land for a period not exceeding six years
and applies alike to all aliens.
4-Enact law similar to the federal
statute governing land ownership in the
District of Columbia. which is a general
law applying to all aliens.
OF these alternatives 1t may safely be
said, according to leaders in the legisla-
ture. that the last two are out or the
question. Many democrats favor turning
the matter over to the State Department,
while the progressive republican majority
apparently remains unchanged in its sup
port of a bill that would apply its re-
strictions to orientals alone.
National View of Situation.
Il was sent to Sacramento by .Presi-
dent Wilson, said Mr.. Bryan, Ito consult
with the governor and the members of
the legislature on the pending alien land
legislation. / am more Interested in the
methods to be employed than in the end
to be attained. and l would be pleased to
hear suggestions from any of you before
speaking further
Senator Boynton. administra lion floor
leader thanked Mr.. Bryan on behalf of
the legislature for his visit He then
outlined the situation for the visitor. say
ing. in part:
gram was received last week announcing
the wish to send Secretary of State
Bryan to confer with this legislature.
there were two bills on this subject be-
fore the senate.
ut was apparent that the people of the
state were strongly in favor of the en-
actment of an alien land law, and such
a law -obably would have been passed
before this time if 1t had not been for
the telegram from the President. At his
request we postponed further considera-
ton Of the matter until Mr.. Bryan could
present his views
Senator Boynton then requested Mr..
Bryan to point out specifically the OBJ
jections of the national government and
of Japan TO 1.-THE pending measures and
to give his reasons from diplomatic
standpoint why California should not en-
act such a law. When Mr.. Bryan re-
manned silent, other members of the ma
jority party urged him to comply with
the request. Senator Caminetti. demo-
crat, suggested that small group Of
members from both houses be selected to
hear Mr.. Bryan's arguments, but Boynton
protested and carried his point.
After several others had spoken. many
of them quoting statistics to show the
increase in land holdings by Japanese
during recent years, Secretary Bryan
arose. His first statement was concern
ing the secret conference which he said
he had favored, with the support of Gov
Johnson and the presiding officers of both
houses. Secretary. Bryan said he could
speak with more frankness to the men,
bers than he could to a "promscuous
audience"
Represents President Wilson.
LAS the representative of the Presi-
dent he began. Il feel keenly the re-
sponsibility that is placed upon me. /
would have preferred to have him come
himself. as the head of the nation, but
that seemed impossible, and he dele
gated me to speak for him. l do not pre-
tend to do other than express his views.
l am simply his spokesman, and l will
say TO you only that which he would
have me say.
LAS to the constitutionality of our
treaty with Japan, you will pardon me
if | decline to act as the Supreme Court.
Further. as to the question of immigra
ton, / think we can consider that ques-
ton as Independent of the land question
with which we are here concerned.
Questions concerning the treaty and
the immigration of Japanese to the
United States had been asked during
the debate.
Continuing. Mr.. Bryan said:
Il have listened to what you have
said and l assume everything to be true;
that you have not overdrawn nor ex-
aggerated the feeling Of the people of
California in the matter. l can assume
that the people demand that something
be done.
Suggests Delay.
whether the legislation is demanded at
the first suggestion that the President
would have me make is that you per-
NIT an effort to be made to deal with
the question automatically, with
view to reaching the same results with
out legislation.
IF the demand is so immediate that
this cannot be done, can action be de-
ferred for TWO years. and in the mean
time have a commission appointed to
investigate conditions and act with the
executive? Would it not be worth while
to try this plan before you adopt the
plan that might result in unfriendliness
from foreign nation?
Il am not going to indulge in any
speculations as to what may happen il
you do anything now. but am here to
advise against the use of any language
that would offend any people that have
dealings with u.s..
In case immediate action was demand
cd, Secretary Bryan said, he would be in
favor of a law framed along the lines OF
NJ Vlliunfa Ia mr. no federal StafIfo In