Omaha daily bee., 1920-09-20
Race Issue
Serious On
West Coast
Termination Of Treaty of 1911
With Japan One of Big
Questions for Nsw Ad.
ministratiOn.
Exclusion Now Illegal
By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.

NoohHiS toliy SSPt. L.. u lHlllca-
ton of the treaty of 1911 with Japan,
legalizing Japanese immigration into
the United States and the leasing of
land by Japanese, is a question that
is destined to be pressed upon the
next administration, as a result of
the race issue developing serious
proportions on the Pacific coast.
SO long as this treaty remains in
effect, the exclusion of Japanese will
be illegal and the United States will
be compelled to continue to rely for
protection from the yellow peril"
on the "gentlemen's agreement"
which the Californians charge, is be.
ing evaded by the Japanese.
Article of the treaty provides
that the citizens or subjects of each
of the high contracting parties shall
have liberty to enter, travel or re-
side in the territories of the other, to
carry on trade, wholesale and retail,
to own or lease and occupy houses,
manufactures. warehouses and
shops, to employ agents of their
choice, to lease land for residential
and commercial purposes and gen.
orally to do anything incident to or
necessary for trade, upon the same
terms as native citizens or subjects,
submitting themselves to the laws
and regulations there established"
Plan New Legislation.
The right to own land for any pur-
pose and to lease land for agricul-
tural purposes was omitted from the
treaty and the California law pro-
hibiting the. ownership and restrict
ing the leasing of land by aliens not
eligible to citizenship, as are the
Japanese, is not in contravention
thereof. The evasion of this law
through corporations and trustees
Tor American-born japanese chill
dren, who are American citizens, the
Callfornlans plan to stop through
additional legislation to be submitted
to a referendum at the November
election, Governor Stephens asserts
that this proposed legislation does
not conflict with the treaty.
There Us growing conviction,
however, mot confined to the Pacific
coast that sooner or later the "un-
assimilable race" question must be
dealt with fundamentally by termi-
mating the "gentlemen's agreement"
and excluding by statute aliens not
eligible to citizenship as we'll as with
holding citizenship from Americana
born children of such aliens. Termi-
nation OF the treaty would be neces-
sary to effect the first, constitu-
tional amendment the second Of
these ends.
The treaty provides that it shalt
remain in effect until 1923, unless
terminated theretofor on six months
notice by either party, and will con-
,tinue in force thereafter until termi-
mated in like manner.
The pronouncements of the candi-
dates for president on the Japanese
question follow: .'.'',.
Harding. ....
with new realization of the ne
cessity of developing soul distinct
ly American in this republic, we ia
vor such notifications of our immi-
grafton laws and such changes in Our
international understandings, and
such a policy relating to those who
come among us, as will guarantee
to the citizens of this republic not
only assimilability of alien born, but
the adopt n by all who come of
American standards, economic and
otherwise, and full conservation to
American practices and ideals"
= Cox.
God Almighty provided that the
fathers of America should be white
men. They builded the ideals on
which fhe republic will live. Those
ideals Should be maintained. Those
from other shores who are not dis
posed to subscribe to that doctrine
nave the privilege of going back
where they came from"
In these statements Senator Hard
ing is more specific and definite than
is Governor Cox. The republican
candidate utters a declaration that
can only be interpreted as advocacy
OF the termination of the treaty with
Japan dHu tHe exclusion or the ldD-
anese by statute. If Governor Cox
has any definite idea of the policy
he would pursue, if elected, in deal
ing with the question, he carefully
avoided stating it.
The republican platform declares
that "the existing policy of the
United States for the practical exclu-
sion of Asiatic immigrants is sound,
and should be maintained. The
democratic platform says that the
policy of the United States, with ref
erence to the non-admission of Ash
attic immigrants, is true expression
OF the judgment of our people, and
to the several states whose geo.
graphical situation or internal con-
ditions make this policy and the en-
forcement .of the laws enacted pur-
suant thereto of particular concern,
we pledge our support"
Falls City Man Speaks on