Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-22
ARIZONA 5 NEW LAWS
NAY EMBARRASS
EFFORT TO BAR OBJECTIONABLE
ALIENS CONFLICTS WITH
TREATY RIGHTS.
SEEK TO KEEP OUT JAPs,
cHINAMEN AND MExIcANs
No Race Discrimination Apparent But
Federal Government Likely to Be
Placed in Embarrassing Situation
Similar to That Raised by California
Laws.
Special Correspondence

Washington, Dec. 22.-Arizona ap-
pears to be having hard time with her
new alien exclusion law. to say moth
ing of getting herself talked about q
lot in Washington. When it appeared
that, partly in consequence cf war dis
turbances, this beautiful and growing
state might be flooded with undesirable
Japanese. Chinese and Mexicans, the
legislature enacted a law, signed by
Governor Hunt, prohibiting the en-
ployment in any industry Of more than
20 per cent of aliens.
This curious provision was intended
the mines, but according to Senator
Marcus A. Smith it is having the I'M
fortunate effect of excluding the very
Cornishmen, who are natural miners
and represent the highest class Of la
Dor to be obtained in that industry.
Now, as far as mines. which find them
selves handicapped in this respect are
concerned, Arizona wishes she had no
alien restriction law.
May 6modFfaS8 Uncle Sdms
The point has been made that the
Arizona law might be found to con-
flict with existing treaties with Euro
pean nations. and that even with coun-
tries which have no treaties with the
United States granting reciprocal
rights to individuals an appeal to the
most favored nation clause might
create awkward demands upon this
government which could not be granted
without violent affront to the spirit OF
the treaties Italy. for example, thru
the treaty Of 1871. secures for her cit!-
zens In this country the most constant
protection and security for thei- per-
sons and property" and tine same
rights and privileges as are or shall be
granted to the natives. on their sub
hitting themselves to the conditions
imposed upon the natives. among the
rights of the natives OF the United
States is the right to work, and it Is
admitted by authorities or interna-
tional law that should Italy become In
terested in securing work for her citi-
zens in Arizona and cite this and other
provisions OF the treaty OF commerce
and navigation of 1871, in support OF
her claims she might create situation
1.-THE japanese in California.
Not al! nations have treaties with
the United States conveying as much
as has been granted to Italy. England.
| for exam pie has no such treaty. and
| important officials here say that should
she try to raise treaty point in ia
| yor of the English miners in Arizona.
she would not have leg to stand on.
\ 70, y ri q
tained in many of our commercial
treaties. bu, It applies only to duties.
| port charges and other restrictions or
privileges incident to the carrying on
Of commerce. 1t can not be invoked in
behalf Of the individual affected by a
law like that Of Arizona. requiring 80
per cent of the persons employed in
an industry to be American citizens.
/ No Race Discrimination.
| 1t is pointed out regarding the Ari-
iona law that 1t is not discriminatory
against any race or nationality and
that therefor all nations probably
stand upon the same treaty basis with
respect to It, This is understood to be
the White House view; but II Is hard
/ ly to be denied that the language Of
such treaties as that with Italy raises
La genuine doubt whether the Arizona
| law would stand the test II Italy
should press demand that her citi-
zens should be employed in Arizona in
dustries regardless Of percentages. The
faction of the state Of New York in
prohibiting the employment Of aliens
| upon public work raises Still another
question, namely whether a state can
enjoy the right to keep aliens off its
official payroll which right can not be
overridden by any demand of respect
for a treaty comforting reciprocal
privileges upon the citizens Of the high
contracting parties. Attempts Of states
to pass alien restriction or exclusion
laws almost invariably create serious
local disturbance or threaten embar-
rassment TO the federal government.
lin case of California the tension be-
tween the United States and Japan
became so great that. as Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels refused to deny ia
/ -