The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-23
WILSON APPEALS
! TO CALiF0RN|ANS
Urges Observance Ct Treaty
With Japan
INVOLVES EATION'S HONOR

Sends Long Telegram to Governor and
Legislators, Pointing Out Duty Of
State Toward the Nation.
Washington, April 20. - President
Wilson, after conference with the
Democratic delegation in congress
from California, lelegraphed 10 Cover
nor Johnson and legislative leaders in
California. appealing 10 them not To
enact any alien land laws in contra
vention of the treaty obligations of
the United States with Japan.
The telegram follows:
Il speak upon the assumption.
which l am sure is we'll founded. that
the people OF California do not desire
their representatives and that their
IN any circumstances to embarrass
the government of the United States
IN its dealings with a nation with
whom it has most earnestly and cor
daily sought to maintain relations OF
genuine friendship and good will. and
anything that might impair treaty
obligations or cast doubt upon the
honor and good faith of the nation
and its government.
Il therefore appeal with the utmost
confidence to the people, the governor
and the legislature of California to
act in the matter now under consider
alton in manner that cannot from
any point of view be fairly challenged
or called in question.
IF they deem it necessary to ex-
clude all aliens, who have not declared
their intentions to become citizens.
from the privileges of land ownership
they can do so along lines already fol-
lowed in the laws of many of the
other states and of many foreign
countries, including Japan herself.
"Insidious discrimination will inev-
itably draw in question the treaty
obligations of the government of the
United States. l register my earnest
and respectful protest against dis
elimination in this case. not only be-
cause l deem 1t my duty to do 80 as
the chief executive of the nation. but
also and the more readily, because !
believe the people of California will
generously respond the moment the
matter Is frankly presented to them
as a question of national policy and
of national honor.
eff they have ignored this point of
view, it is, am sure. because they
did not realize what and how nncb
was involved" "
The telegram was carefully consid.
cred at the cabinet meeting.
A reply to the presidents appeal
was received from Governor Johnson.
indicating that If any bill is passed 1t
will contain the phrase Ineligible to
citizenship" to which objection has
been taken.
The California Democratic congress
sional delegation, consisting of Rep
resentatives Kettner, Raker and
Church, called on the president about
appointments, but Mr.. Wilson deferred
that subject and Immediately took up
the alien land situation.
He TOLD MIS- VlSlCOrS ne naQ no ue-
sire to seem to be in any way en-
croaching upon the sovereign right Of
California to legislate as she pleased,
but that he felt it was his duty to
call the attention of the leaders in the
state to the international question in
volved.
Mr.. Raker replied that If the presi-
dents course in appealing to the leg
islature proved futile, its influence
might be to cause the submission Of
any law passed to referendum. The
president is said to be confident that
the people of California, if they had
an opportunity to vote on the meas
ure, would not approve a law which
the federal government pointed out
was in violation of the treaty obliga-
ions.