The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-15
SAYS PRESERVATION
| 0F STATE DEPENDS
upon ITS PASSAGE
I'VE Must See 1t or Be Blind.
He Writes in Strong Letter
of Explanation
-
INTEND NO OFFENSE
TO ANY COUNTRY
United States Itself. He Says,
i Has Defined Who Are In
eligible to Citizenship.
Not California

WASHINGTON. May 14.-Governor
Johnson's message announcing his de-
termination to sign the California
alien land bill was received at the
state department tonight. This Anal
action by Governor johnson puts the
federal government In a position
where it will be obliged to take ups
the cudgefs for California in fighting
Japan's protest
Apparently. however, Governor
johnson leaves one little loophole
through which he may yet reverse
himself, il an extreme emergency
should develop. He informs Secre-
tary Bryan that he considers 1t hin
duty to sign the bill unless some ABB
solutely controlling necessity demands
contrary action"
Governor johnson acknowledges
that he can see no such necessity and
apparently he puts it up to Mr.. Bryan
to disclose that danger IL 1t exists.
Governor johnson, in his reply to
Mr.. Bryan. contends that the Califor-
MIA bill IS fully within the treaty OBJ
legations of the United States, He
denies fatty also that 1t carries any
intended offense to Japan. or any
other nation. or that 4 IN discrtM-
inatory He adds that California has
been forced to pass this bill for the
protection and preservation Of thu
state.
I'VE must see II, or be blind" says
he.
The Johnson message was Inn
mediately sent by Secretary Bryan 70
President Wilson, and was made pub
lie at the White House.
Governor Jonnsons message - %
follows:
aSacrau ,ento Cal Nav IA
Honorable William J. Bryan. score
tary OF State, Wasningion. Y. 49,
Your very courteous teie9FaHls
lating to the alien iand phi Ieac $3.50
me 'a.o sunu .si, . YEA. rsa,,s~t
our CONVERSATIONS anu rrs..sssr
maae 10 me ~ I..., y $500
ACTON uhtil pp..n .s..ssssts.,,..,
eo TOT me piesea'".on - trss
from u,e ~ So. n-rat - w.-
your eeies an IN .,.;s,s - thA nr~.i-
you. VS. - =. MS hafare anal acton.
oe"' " csS.s C.Wsornia,s View.
.r ~ snarva :, is NV design
IN LIE ~ nresent the sit,,a-
.. go 80 standno;nt and tha
s.sa,.s nat actuated our legislature in
,,as~;ns the hilI and that impelled me
r. sa,c.;ar n
ar,.sr ary wars a very grave prob-
,.n, i;ttls understood in the East,
has canfrortad california: a problem
~ sar;cusness Of which has been
.s~,,-ad Nv Statesmen in our ma
ZION and has heen viewed with ap-
nrahAnstor hv the ueople OF thia
Stata when the nresent constitution
81 Ca,;fornia was adopted. more than
thirty yoors ago. 1t contained the fol-
Lowing declaration:
= The presence of foreigners N
eligible TO. become ciIizehs o. tno
United states - dec'aTeu ~ pe uAn
Eerous 10 the WeH-peins 81 ,He $500
and the legislature snail oiscou 1 .a.o
their immigration by All means "1'nA is1
Its power.
i "Of late years Ola proplem ions
another angle mas become Acute. 49, 49,
agitation has been CONTINUOUS IN 49,
Last decade IN regard 10 our asrlcu.s
tural lands, until hnaiiy aMiHiattvS
action IN an attempted soiuuoH
came imperative rms atiempteu 80
luton Ii found in the action Of owl
legislature IN the passage OF the 49,
land bill. In the pnraseoiosy 2. NJ.
Dill. IN those wnom II aHec.s. u y.
scope. ana its purpose, We Dcnsv $1,000
are within our iesai ana our - ~. -
right. and that we are doin9 $780,
what - imperativeiy demaAaed NM
the protection ana preservation IA
our State. In this enactment We nas&
faith. as evidenced by cxsssll
treaties, and our desire ana .A ,ss:z
have been to act only In sucn fasssN
as would commend us 70 our sa .sl