William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson

Title

William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Identifier

WWP17703

Date

1913 April 28

Source

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Text

TELEGRAM.
33 WU. DN. FD. 240 Collect
Government
Sacramento, Calif.,
April 28, 1913.

Spent two hours answering questions. Two questions which I was requested to submit to you were as follows: First, When the President advised against the words “ineligible to citizenship” did he know that Arizona passed a law in 1913 including those words, and that Washington passed a law in 1909 including those words, and if he did not know of those statutes then does he still advise against those words now that he does know of these statutes. Second, Did Japan protest when the law of Arizona and Washington were enacted and if not why does she protest against the passage of a similar statute in California. I answered the first that whether you knew of the Washington and Arizona statutes or not I felt sure that they would not change your views as to the advisability of avoiding the words “ineligible to citizenship”. I could not answer second question. I would like an answer to both questions to submit tomorrow morning. I understand that Washington is considering a proposition to change her law and I am wiring the Governor of Washington for information. Think majority still incline to use words “ineligible to citizenship”. I have been asked what you would do if legislature passed bill containing words “ineligible to citizenship”. I answered that I was not prepared to answer the question without further information from you.



W. J. Bryan.¹11:55 pm.

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00144.pdf

Citation

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, “William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson,” 1913 April 28, WWP17703, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.