Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-04
Charged That Paid Attor-
neys Have Been Active in
Securing the Defeat of the
nti-alien Measure.
EMPHATIC DENIAL
BY TWIN FALLS MAN
G. M. Booth Admits That
He Is Opposed to Bill but
Declares That He Knows
Nothing About the AL
legged $4,000 Fee.

A sensation was sprung here yes
terday when it was stated that the
Japanese Association of America has
had at least one paid attorney here
operating a lobby to defeat the anti
alien bill, killed yesterday in the SEN
ate, and that following the defeat Of
the measure great tracts of land were
to be acquired in southeastern Idaho
by Japanese.
1t was also stated that there had
been extensive telephone communi-
cation between Boise and a certain
Washington attorney in regard to the
anti-aiien bill and that the attitude
taken by the representatives of the
Japanese government at Washington
had been fomented by the Washing
ton attorney, without which action
Japan might not have become so keen
ly interested in the matter.
The Washington attorney is said to
have created such a stir in Washing
ton that, in view of the California
precedent, the Japanese legation could
not fail to take cognizance of the mat
ter.
TWIN FALLS ATTORNEY NAMED.
The name OF c. NJ. Booth. an attor-
ney of Twin Falls, who has been in
Boise, was mentioned in connection
with the matter. In fact, it was stat
ed he was the attorney for the Jap
anese association and that q large fec,
rumor placing it at $4,000, was to be
his for his services in securing the
defeat Of the anti-alien measure.
CALLS 1T "MOONSHlNE."
Mr.. Booth, when asked about the
matter, described the story as moon
shine" He said:
Il have had no connection with the
Japanese legation in Washington in
the matter of the anti-alien land bill
| have expressed to some members OF
the legislature my views respecting
this kind of legislation. ! was and
am against the alien bill. II is ILL.,
timed. 1t is wrong in principle. There
| is no necessity for it. We need de-
veopment and production in this state
This bill is an insult to every alien
be he Dutch, German, English OF
Scotch, who comes to our state. We
have been trying to build up our
state.
Now comes this bill that proposes
to deprive honest aliens of every class
from holding lands. 1t is wrong in
principle We arc in no danger from
! foreigners. our only danger in this
state is from lack of intensive soil cul-
! ture.
UNCLE SAM CAN HANDLE 1T.
so far as Japan is concerned, | be-
lieve the federal government is wei
qualified to take care of every emery
cncy that may arise. II is not incum-
bent on this state to attempt by legis.
latlon to solve our foreign questions
We need the energy and ability that
comes here from foreign lands. 1t Is
true ! have urged to certain members
the exercise OF caution in this matter
| believe my position to be right The
report that japanese persons are about
to acquire title to lands is wrong
There is no such attempt japanese
land holdings aggregate less than 32O
acres in this state. There is and has
been no attempt to increase theil
holdings. 1t Is far better to allow
this matter to be taken care of by thu
national government. l am certainly
against any effort to create disturb
ance locally when there is no reason
for il "