LAND OWNERS WARNED

ANTIALIEN LEASING LAW TO BE ENFORCED.

Criminal Proceedings Are to Be Brought Against Any Trying to Evade Statute.

Land owners who aid in the evasion of the antialien land law will be prosecuted in criminal proceedings, Prosecutor Malcolm Douglas said today in announcing his intention to enforce the law strictly.

He said it had been called to his attention that many aliens intent on evading the law are now posing as day laborers on farms which they actually control and that they are keeping time books which would be used to deceive juries if an attempt is made to escheat the land.

Under the direction of Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ewing D. Colvin, a corps of investigators is seeking evaders of the antialien land statute, and another series of complaints asking the forfeiture of valuable dairy and agricultural land is forecast.

Explaining the decision of Superior Judge Everett Smith of last Saturday, escheating to the state 240 acres of valuable farmland near Duvall, Prosecutor Douglas said the decision means that leases of land to aliens still in effect are invalid, although made before the law took effect.

In the case before Judge Smith the land was leased from June 6, 1921, the day before the law took effect, to February 28, 1933. The lessor was John Joyce of Duvall and the lessees George Motomatsu and his wife. The consideration over the years ranged from $200 to $420 a month. Guie & Halverstadt, representing the aliens, have appealed the case to the State Supreme Court.