Omaha daily bee., 1920-10-29
Coast Voters to
Pass On Japanese
Issue Tuesday
Fight for Measure to Deny
Orientals Land Privileges In
California Long Drawn
Out Struggle.
BY R. w. DYDER.

Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire
copyright. 1920. by the Chicago Tribune
San Francisco. Oct. 28.-The his
tory of California's measure to deny
Japanese the right to lease agricul-
tural land is interesting. Its pro-
ponents first sought its enactment
by the California legislature, asking
that a special session. be called. This
the governor declined. announcing
that he had received a cablegram
from Secretary of State Lansing,
then in Versailles, which expressed
fear that such legislation would seri-
ously interfere with the successful
negotiation of the peace treaty.
Proponents of the measure, how
ever. merely marked time, for a
month or two later we find them
again urging the governor to con-
vene the legislature.
Again the governor declined CIV
ing as further reason that the
matter was OF such tremendous I'M
portance that any consideration OF
it should be thoroughly divorced
from politics and preceded by the
fullest and fairest investigation.
which investigation he had ordered
the state board of control to make.
Governor Remains Firm.
And, despite much of protest and
criticism from various anti Japanese
leaders, the governor adhered TO his
position.
Whether the anti-Japanese leaders
feared the result of such an investi-
cation. it is impossible to say, but
they did refuse to await it, proceed =
ing at once to prepare a measure
embracing their program, to be sub
mitted to the voters through the
initiative
1t is this measure which. As this
is written. has just been given the
first position upon CALIFORNIA; No
vember ballot and i'll behalf of which
a thoroughly organized and active
statewide campaign now is being
made,
Those actively urging adoption of
the measure claim that it is consti-
tutional and in accord with our
treaties with Japan. but those op-
posing it vigorously assert its un-
constitutionality and violation of ex-
isting treaties.
Therefore, if it passes, the meas
ure will no doubt ultimately find
its way into the court for determina-
tion.
The placing of such a measure
upon the ballot is one tangible re-
suit of the anti Japanese agitation
in California
Hearings Concluded.
Another thing for which the hos
tile agitation was largely responsible
was the coming to the Pacific coast
OF AZ subcommittee Of the congress
sional committee on immigration
and naturalization. which has just
concluded extensive hearings in
California and Washington upon the
whole Japanese situation as it en-
lists today.
That great good will come as the
result Of these hearings is the gen.
eral consensus of opinion, for the
committee saw and heard all phases
of the situation.
In an article sucl, as this. it would
be impossible to take up in detail
the vast amount of testimony adj
duced. Therefore we will undertake
to present and discuss only the
salient points.
In all agitation against the Jap
anese there have been four points
most strongly stressed.
The first, that Japan has fragrant
~ violated the "gentlemen's agree
ment."
The second, that the birth rate of
the Japanese here is dangerously
high.
The third, that the Japanese are
so rapidly and securing
such control of land and industry as
to endanger white supremacy.
The fourth that the Jarancse are
incapable OF assimilation.