SQUEEZING OUT THE ALIEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1747, 12 May 1913, Page 4

SQUEEZING OUT THE ALIEN.

The latest American papers give some 1 ' additional particulars of considerable interest regarding the Alien Land B,ill, which lias evoked such strong protests from tin: Japanese, at whom the measure is said to he principally aimed. The Hill provides that no alien can hold land in California for more than a year without becoming naturalised, nor can any corporation own land unless a majority of its stockholders are Anieri; can citizens. The latter clause seems to be meeting with as much hostility as the former, although our cable messages have made no reference to if. The San Francisco Wcrkly Ghrmiic'lc gives a number of illustrations to show the strange things that might he possible if the Bill should bccomc law. For instance, a certain brewery company is, or at least formerly was, we arc told, a British corporation, with nearly all its stockholders British, and directly or by stock ownership this corporation owns a g'.:od deal of landed property in California. It could not. hold its land under tlu\ Bill. Then, again, there are a number of mining companies, in which a majority of the stockholders are foreigners. A good many alien farmers have bought land, and in (lie cities aliens are living in their own houses. These would, it K stated, all have to sell out, and they would even he prevented from living in the Slate at all unless they moved every three years, as tliev cannot lease for a longer term, nor can they renew a lease. We must give the commenls of (be t.'hmnirlc on the:-:' in its own words, as it- would be a pity to spoil (he effect oT Hie following peroration by any verbal alleral ions: - ' There is fomcUiiiip mr.a Uj:oi Imun-.y iii such 4 measure, Tlicio ij recklwiuc.'s,.

viciousness, an actual spirit of hate, as well as monumental ignorance and stupiilitv. California cannot boycott the rest of tile world indefinitely without getting a return boycott, which would be ruinous. Never on earth was there assembled a Icjji.-Uitive body which was such an utter disgrace to the people who elected its members. And it is the direct result of the campaign of egotism, hypocrisy, and hate which resulted in their election. And those who were responsible for the campaign, and who to-day control ,tho votes of the freaks who were elccled, are responsible for the injury which tliey aro doing to California. As regards the treatment of the Japanese, President Wilson is placed in a very delicate position. On the one side he is faced by the irritation of the Japanese nation, who are threatening to boycott the PanamaPacific Exposition, and on the other side he naturally hafe no wish to interfere with the sovereignty of the State of California. The supporters of the Bill are taking up the attitude | of "hands off at Washington," and declare that the State will deal with (he matter itself without outside interference. They contend that popular sentiment is strongly in favour of the measure, as Japanese landholding' is increasing rapidly. It is said that they already own over 50,000 acres, and lease another ■100,000 acres. The question of treaty privileges has to be considered, and the constitutional aspcct of tlio, matter may have to be decided by United States Courts. Sonic of the newspapers regard the position as sufficiently serious to cause the Government to increase its naval strength, and to indulge in a shipbuilding contest with Japan. The Tribune, for instance, while admitting that Japan has slackened off in naval construction, states that this is "only by way of preparation for resumption of it on a scalc which mav startle the world.'' 1 It is therefore the duty of the United States to build ships and still more ships. Other papers, such as the New York I'oxt, however, severely deprecate any such alarmist policy. Recent cablegrams do not indicate that a serious crisis is likely, though the action of California is very irritating to a proud and spirited race like the Japanese. The United States Cabinet is now considering Japan's protest.