The Raymer enterprise., 1913-05-01
Y0UCAN BAR JAPS
BUT DO NOT DO so. is sRYAN's
PLEA; ALIEN BILL GOES,
\ us REPLY.
DELAY ACTI0N,.0N BILL
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS QUIZ
SECRETARY; REJECT ADVICE
ON LEGISLATION.
western Newspaper Union New. Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Sacramento, Calf, April 29.-Cau.
'ornia, in the fullness of her right as
state may enact.'a rigid land law
barring orientals from ownership, but
such action would be against the earn
est wish Of the national administra-
lion. a.
This Is the substance OF the mes
Sage Of William Jennings Bryan, sec
retary of state and personal represen-
sative of President Wilson, delivered
to a secret conference attended only
by Governor Johnson. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Wallace and the 12O members
Of the California Legislature.
The Impression prevailed here.
when the conference adjourned. that
the resolve of the majority leaders
previously announced. to enact, bill
specifically debarring "aliens ineligi.
BILE to citizenship from owning land
In California remained unchanged.
Governor Johnson indicated, this
with the representative Of the Presi-
dent. 4..,
Secretary Bryan arrived in Sacra.
mento at 6 O'Clock Monday morning.
With his consent plans were laid for
an immediate hearing and shortly At
ter II o'clock the first session of the
conference began.
Those who expected Secretary Bry-
an to expound new theory Of states
rights were disappointed, as were
those who expected predictions OF
war.
Advice, in the name OF President
Wilson, was all Mr.. Bryan had to Of
fer. and the paramount question here
Is whether such advice will overcome
the previously announced determine.
ton Of the Progressive majority to en-
act an anti.alien land holding law
along the lines alreadytagreed upon.
Secretary Bryan ,reaffirmed the
states right to act in cimanner 1t saw
lit, but suggested several alternatives
to-. the passage Of bill restricting
aliens Ineligible to citizenship bas'
ing his reason on the board, founda
ton Of public policy. Briefly, the al
ternatives in the order In which they
were suggested are as follows:
/. Delay immediate action and al
low the State Department to try to ac'
complish the ends desired, by means
Of new treaty with Japan.
2. Delay immediate action end ap
point a committee to investigate the
subject OF alien land ownership and
act In conjunction with the President
in securing relief.
3. Enact a law similar to the stat.
ute in Illinois which permits aliens to
hold land for period not exceeding
six years and applies alike to all
aliens.
4. Enact a law similar to the fed
eral statute governing iand ownership
In the District Of Columbia. which is a
general law applying to all aliens.
or these alternatives. 1t may safely
be said. according to leaders in the
Legislature, that the last two are out
Of the question.
Many Democrats favor turning the
matter over to the State Department
while the Progressive majority appar
emily remains unchanged'in support oil
bill that would apply its restrictions
to orientals alone;
The conference with Secretary Bry
an served to show the breadth Of the
sentiment in favor Of an allen land
law that shall be effective in checking
the japanese and Chinese immigra