Title: "Californians Bow to Wilson's Advice and Again Postpone Bill," Seattle Times, 5/1/1913, (ddr-densho-56-224)
Densho ID: ddr-densho-56-224

CALIFORNIANS BOW TO WILSON'S ADVICE AND AGAIN POSTPONE BILL

However, Anti-Alien Land Ownership Measure Will Come Up Tomorrow and Will Be Voted Upon Then.

ALL SIDES AGREE NOT TO SEEK RECONSIDERATION

SACRAMENTO, Cal., Thursday, May 1. -- At the earnest plea of the Democrats for more time in which to study the Webb redraft of the anti-alien land bill, the majority leaders in the Senate today agreed to a postponement of further consideration of the measure until 11 o'clock tomorrow morning.

The agreement to postpone action was made with the understanding on all sides that the bill shall come to a final vote tomorrow and that no motion to reconsider shall be made on behalf of either side.

When the bill was reached on file in the Senate shortly before noon, Senator Curtin introduced a resolution proposing that the Legislature defer to the wishes of President Wilson, as expressed by Secretary of State Bryan.

The resolution set forth the facts surrounding the visit of Mr. Bryan to California and his conferences with the legislators, concluding as follows:

"Be it resolved, that the people the state of California do hereby defer to the wishes of the President of the United States and this Legislature will not at this session pass the bills herein mentioned, and,

"Be it further resolved by the people of the state of California, represented by the Senate and Assembly, jointly, that the President of the United States be and he is hereby respectfully requested to endeavor to secure such treaty or other agreement from any nation protesting against the passage of the bills under consideration as will effectually accomplish the end and purpose herein mentioned, and,

"Be it further resolved, That the secretary of the Senate be and he is hereby directed to forward a copy of these resolutions to the President of the United States."

After introducing his resolution, Senator Curtin moved to postpone further consideration of the alien land bill until tomorrow morning. He was supported by many of the Democrats in the debate that ensued.

The following telegram from President Wilson was received here today by Governor Johnson:

Telegram From Wilson.

"I take the liberty of calling your attention to the Webb bill, which would involve an appeal to the courts on question of treaty rights and bring on what might be long and delicate litigation."

Governor Johnson immediately replied:

"I thank you very much for your suggestion. The fault may be due to the fact that we have endeavored to preserve affirmatively, upon the face of our bill, the existing treaty. I have referred the matter at once to our attorney-general, and I would be extremely grateful for any suggestions that would avoid the objection you mention."

Governor Johnson transmitted the correspondence to Senator Thompson, one of the authors of the original bill with this comment:

"In consultation with Attorney-General Webb, we are unable to see how any language can be employed which might not be ultimately subject to the same objection that is suggested in the President's telegram.

"The attorney-general in the bill prepared has endeavored affirmatively to preserve all treaty rights, and any bill that might be passed upon the subject of alien land ownership, of course, would, from our standpoint, endeavor in the most emphatic fashion to protect our national good faith in the matter of treaties that have heretofore been executed, and none of us would impair -- no matter what might be the legal question involved -- the obligations of any treaty that may have been heretofore made.

Any Language Open to Question.

"This being our desire, it seems to the attorney-general and myself that no language can be employed that will not be equally open to the objection suggested.

"In order that the widest publicity may be given to the views of the President, although this telegram, I take it, was not given for transmission in a message to the legislature, I shall give the telegram to the press and you are at liberty to present it or any of the maters contained in this note."

The Japanese problems in California that it actually exists on the farms and ranches of the Sacramento Valley was viewed at close range by Secretary of State Bryan this morning in the course of a two-hours' automobile run through the thickly populated Florin district, ten miles south of the capital.

Governor Johnson and Assemblyman Hugh Bradford, who accompanied the secretary of state, were armed with facts and figures to explain the scenes that met the eyes of their visitor and Mr. Bryan seemed deeply interested. His only comment, however, at the end of the trip was that he had seen "not only a Japanese colony but a very pretty California valley."

Japanese Oust Whites.

In the Florin district, embracing about twenty-five square miles of rich soil, there is a population of 1,500 Japanese farmers and 400 Americans. Twelve years ago, there were not a score of Japanese in the community; now they virtually control the grape and berry industries of that section.

They own the factory where the berry boxes are made and when the party visited the shop, Mr. Bryan saw thirty-five Japanese girls at work. He was told by Governor Johnson that prior to six years ago American girls were employed there at higher wages and with shorter hours of labor.

At the district school of Florin this party visited the first grade. It was a typical schoolroom with pictures of Washington and Lincoln on the walls, but in the seats were twenty-two Japanese children and twenty American boys and girls. The American youngsters were 6 and 7 years old. The Japanese included several who were 16 and so large that new desks had been supplied for them.