Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-22
WIZ T BOOTH DENIED.


! Booth was first called to the stand
and remained for two hours. He testi.
| fled that he had only been actuated by
the best of motives and by a patriotic
spirit TO defeat the anita alien bill: that
he considered 1t detrimental legisla-
| ton. threatening to retard the develop
ment of the state and to involve the
United States In serious international
controversy because of it's possible
bearing en- the violation of treaty
rights. Booth entered emphatic de-
malls. summarized as follows:
That he did not file a protest with
the state department.
That he never seriously meant to
leave the impression he was going to
receive a $4,000 fee.
That he did not use the long distance
telephone to call Washington from
Boise.
That he did not attempt to use i'm
proper influence on the Idaho legisla-
| ture, particularly the senate.
NO PROTEST FILED.
Regarding the charge contained In
| the affidavit that he had asked one
Herrick at Washington get In t UGH
with the Idaho Daily Statesman cor
! respondent, Booth said he had made
| no such request. He quoted from the
Literary Digest to show that no formal
protest was ever filed with the state
department by the Japanese govern
ment, as had been reported was done
by the Washington correspondent of
local morning publication.
Booth admitted that he represented
japanese boys" In fighting the anti
alien bill. Asked IL he was represent
ing the Idaho japanese association. he
left the impression that II the Japanese
boys" made up that association, he
might have, although he did not know
definitely whether such an association
was in existence and II 1t was who are
Its officers. He said the Japanese
holdings in the state were small; that
anti alien legislation in his opinion
only retarded state development and
that two years ago when there was
agitation for the passage Of such leg
islation it blocked Belgians from colo
MIXING near jerome.
SENT MANY TElEGRAMS.
The testimony with regard to his ac-
tivity to get pressure to bear at WASH
ington brought out he had been in com
munication not only with Herrick but
with Senator Borah and others, who
took the Wow that In view Of the inter-
national complications facing the coun-
try 1t might be unwise to push the anti
allen legislation. The sugar beet peo-
pie he said we're against such legisIa-
ton, also the Commercial club at Twin
rails and other organizations. He 4
he had acted also becau he believed
the authorities of Washington had
right to know the developments with
relation to the character Of legislation
before the Idaho legislature. He de-
MED he HE'D protest with the Jap
anese ambassador. He admitted send
ing between ~ and IS kilograms to
various parties including the Japanese
consul at Portland, some of which were
admitted as exhibits. He admitted
having been in the service Of the fed
cral government and when SO enga xed
became acquainted with Herrick.
WHO HE TALKED WITH.
When the investigating committee
sought to draw from Booth who he
had talked with among members OF the
present legislature regarding the bill,
Booth mentioned Representatives lDris-
coll and Young Of Ada county. Among
the senators he said he talked with
Lowe OF Cassia. Atherton OF Twin
Falls. Mitchell OF Lewis. He said he !
spoke to Senators Mitchell and Whit |
comb about hearing before the ju- /
dietary committee; that he was never /
denied hearing. but that he never !
had one. The senator's he said showed t
him the greatest courtesy on all occa-
sions.
Queried as TO why he had sought to |
bring pressure to bear at Washington
and through the Japanese consul /,
bloc; the passage OF a measure before |