Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-05-01
THE JAPs AND STATES RIGHTS.

THE oregonian speaks rather flip.
PANTY of what it calls "the ghosts
Of states rights" and says "it
will be necessary to take some action
which win lay the spectre for all time.
It goes to the extent of saying that
"the weakest point in our constitution
is the fact that Federal power is de-
rived from the states, and that this
should be cured by having the state
power delegated by the Federal govern
ment to the states"
All this on account of the attempt
being made by California to guard the
ownership of lands within her borders,
with which measure the Oregonian
seems not to be in accord
The 0regonian's 's ideas, carried out,
would give a strong centralized gov
ernment, in which the states would have
practically no part. 1t is the old FEEDER
alist idea revamped. Whether it would
give us a stronger government cannot
well be answered, unless we try the ex-
pertinent, and that will not be done. The
people are well satisfied with the pres
emit form, though not always pleased
with the administration Of affairs; but
there is no possibility of the change
suggested by the Oregonian ever being
made, hence it is up to us to jog along
as best we may, under present condi-
tions, and to deal with situations from
existing conditions, rather than dis
eussing thief from the points they might
present had we different form Of gov.
ernment.
Under the union of states, each state
retains the right to manage its own af-
fairs, in its own way, at its. own time,
without interference from any other
state, or all of them; being bound to
observe and obey the general govern
ment, her sister states combined, in mat
ters, which she has delegated to them.
With due Difference TO our big contem-
porary, we suggest that the very strong
est argument that could be made in fa'
vor of this "ghost of states rights y
ia presented by the situation in Califor-
mia. If the state had not the right to
protect herself, then she, and the bal
ance of the coast would be in hard
lines. The Japs are in California, not
in the Eastern or Middle states. Cali
fornia feels and realizes the evil effects
of the alien ownership of lands, when
the aliens are Japs or Chinese; the
Eastern states know nothing about it
California knows that Jap or China
man when he acquires land, is so un
desirable neighbor that the whites
residing near him soon want to move
away, and the land is not desired by
other whites, so long as the Orientali
are 10 be neighbors. The result is thii
farm goes into the ownership of Japs
who, by the same process make the ad
joining property undesirable, and so The
Jap ownership increases, and that th'
more rapidly the larger the area, be
cause IL has that much more land il
touch with white neighbors, The Jal
colony, like q cancer, grows and spreads
This condition faces California, II doe
not face the Eastern states, and the,
know nothing whatever Of these eondi
tions IL is not their OK that is bein
gorod. California faces the Orient wit
its teemiug millions of non'assimilativ
people casting longing eyes ON her ric
territory, and ready to invade and cor
duer her, not with the rifle and cannon
but by the equally deadly weapons o
peace. II is as much California's dut
TO protect herself, tho people of tn
United States, tho Caucasian rac'
against this deadly invasion, as II woul
be to pour out her blood and treasure I
defend her shore FROM invasion Wha
matters IL TO the man who is robbed
his purse, whether it be taken by
highwayman, by force or is quietly r
moved from his posscSsion, without h