The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-11-05
Seek TO
PREVENT
ORIENTAL
LEASING
Petitions to Be Circulated
and viii Be Presented to
Lawmakers for Action

The AntlJapancse League a
Washington has launched . earn.
paign for signatures TO an initia-
tive bill 10 be presented 10 tho
next state legislature aimed aS
restricting the ownership and
leasing Of Land by japanese
This bill has In view the sanso
object as that contemplated II
the bill which WAS enacted int
law ON November 2 by . four 70
one vote Of the people Of CxIi.
fornia
Both measures were prompted ~
nm awakening Of the people Of thano
states 10 the fact that the Japauaao
In their process OF peaceful peoetrap
ton have accomplished their mnw
important results in the directjco -
obtaining control Of the food gupp1v
OF the Pacific Coast This they nro
doing thru control OF the distribuf1nn
and marketing Of farm products anG
thru the acquisition Of Agricultural
lands.
TREATY DOES NOT BAH
ANTII.AND LAWS
The prevent treaty w1e1 .JxDHw
omits from the privileges gsiarantooa
70 Japanese in this country both ~
ownership and the leasing Of aoFleut
tural lands. Japan has always pruH
hlbIted the ownership. leasing OF 90
OF agricultural lands in Japan ~
Americans or other foreigners.
The constitution OF this state NJ
hiblts the ownership Of iand-excorG
in certain cases--by aliens 0thoP
than those who have In good nm
declared their intention to becomo
citizens OF the United Statea- A. the
Japoncse. other than thoss horn in
the United States cannot becouo
citizens. they can own land only
within the restrictions Imposed "
the constitution: that is to ~
where land is acquired by inherit
ance. under mortgage. or in The col
lection OF debts Corporations The
majority OF the stock OF which q
owned by aliens. are declared to ~
within the meaning Of the conseltup
tionsi prohibition.
ADDED SECTIONS TO
PREVENT LEASING
p The proposed initiative act adoptn
the text OF the constitutional pruvinr
ion as its first section The adde6
sections are designed to prevent 1enn.
ing as well as the ownership OF agr1-
cultural lands: to limit to six months
all leases OF agricultural Iandss
TO limit TO two years the period dur
ing which land acquired by inhsrit-
ance. under mortgage or In the col
lection OF debts may be held: TO closs
the existing openings for evasion Of
the constitutional prohibition. and to
provide the means and the procedure
for carrying out the purposes Of the
act.
Section OF the act declares that
any leasehold or other interest IN
agricultural land. or any leasehold
interest OF more than six month";
duration in non-agricultural land
shall be considered an ownership
thereof.
Section empowers any citizen Of
the United States. and makes 1t the
duty OF prosecuting attorneys and Of
the attorney general to institute
actions to escheat to the state any
lands held or acquired in violation
OF the act.
Sections 4 and prohibit aliens
from becoming trustees for alien
children born in the United States.
for which only citizens of the United
States may be appointed either guar
dams or trustees. This would bar
japanese subjects to act as guar.
dams for children born In the u. s
Section provides that land ac-
uuired by aliens by inheritance. un.
der mortgage or In the collection Of
debts shall be held not longer than
two years. at the end of which tinfe
any citizen shall have the right. and
It shall be the duty of prosecuting
attorneys and of the attorney gen.
eral. TO bring action TO sell the land
and pay the proceeds to the alien by
whom II was acquired.
MUST SHOW
GOOD E'AITR
Section provides that before an
0lleu can acquire ianu unueT fuoIt
gage or in the collection OF debt.
he shall file in court an affidavit
stating that the mortgage or debt
was incurred In good faith and with
out intent TO evade the provisions OF
the act. This affidavit may he con-
within one year by any.
citizen of the United States. where
upon trial by jury shall be had.
and. II II be found that the mortgage
or debt was incurred with intent 70
evade the act. the land shall escheat
TO the state. A presumption OF In
tent TO evade the act shall arise
where possession, control or manage
mcnt of tho property is acquired
prior TO the order confirming III
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