The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-25
CALIFORNIA VOTERS
: To- SETTLE FATE OF
JAP'S LAND RIGHTS
DIV. Associated Press,


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25.-The
fate of Japanese farmers in California
will be decided Tuesday, Nov. 2, when
the electorate of this state passes on
an initiative measure that would
drastically amend the present alien
land law by Withdrawing entirely the
three.year agricultural land leasing
privilege from aliens who are ineligi-
bic to American citizenship.
The measure aims also to place min
or land-ownfng aliens under the guar
dianship of a public administrator.
The actual ownership of farm hands
by aliens ineligible to citizenship al
ready Is prohibited by the alien land
law enacted by the state legislature
in 1913. ..-.
- Conforms to Treaty.
Tho Initiative measure, its propon-
ents assert, will conform strictly to
the letter of the treaty between Japan
and the United States, in which jap
anese residents were granted certain
privileges. ..--.. .e-- ..s-es..
The opponents of the proposed new
law declare that the, issue raises, the
question of an Interpretation Of
phaseology in the treaty, wherein 1t
is provided that the Japanese resi-
or hire and occupy houses, manufac-
tories, warehouses, shops. and prem
Uses and lease lands for residential
and commercial purposes"
It Is pointed out by persons oppos-
ed to amending the present law that
the leasing of land for commercial
purposes" contemplated the privilege
OF leasing agricultural lands. The
voters of the state have had the legal
verbiage of the measure clarified by
arguments for and against 1t respec-
lively by v. S. McClatchy, publisher
of the Sacramento, Cal, Bee, and by
John p Irish, an extensive land own
err of Stockton, Cal.
Seek to Preserve Lands.
In behalf of the measure, Mr.. NC
CATCHY says in part: Through the
measure, California seeks, as Is her
inherent right, to preserve her lanas
for Americans, precisely as Japan pre-
serves her lands for the Japanese. It's
primary purpose is to prohibit Or1en-
tails who cannot boone American citi-
zens from controlling our rich agri-
cultural lands.
"Our present treaty of commerce
and navigation with Japan deliber-
ately omits from the privileges grant
ed the Japanese in this country eth
er ownership or lease of agricultural
lands. japan has always prohibited
ownership or lease or use of agr1cul-
tural lands in Japan by Americans or
other foreigners.
1.-THE initiative measure simply clos
es the loop.hole in the 1913 law which
permits violation and evasion thereon.
In addition, it forbids even short
leases.
Argues Against Measure.
In his argument against the meas
ure, Mr.. Irish discusses the CONNER
cial treaty with Japan and declares
that lin it's economic definition COM
MERGE consists of production. transmit
ton and exchange; production is the
ranking element, because without 1t
there can be no commerce.
THE treaty is intended then" the
opposition argument continues, ito
give the Japanese privilege to enter
upon complete commerce, and there
fore protects their right to lease land
for production. Amy other interpreta-
ton twists the plain language of the
treaty into vain repetition
considered in the light of the Four
teenth amendment to the constitution
of the United States, which says, No
state shall deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws, we f1n1 the initiative is In
conflict. with our constitution since it
proposes a discriminatory classified
ton of aliens, comforting upon one
class the protection of the law which
it denies to another class"