Assures Japan War Talk Is False.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 28, 1913:
State Department Authorizes Tokio Embassy to Deny Rumors.
JOHNSON PRAISES LAND LAW
Says It Is Among the Most Drastic Ever Introduced, and Challenges a Referendum.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, May 27.— The State Department has received from Mr. Bailly-Blanchard, Chargé 'd'Affaires of the American Embassy at Tokio, by cable, copies of dispatches from the United States in Tokio papers, giving excited accounts of preparations in this country for war with Japan. The greater number of these dispatches were sent from San Francisco, and consisted of details of the movements of United States troops to the Philippines and Hawaii. Secretary Bryan to-day authorized Mr. Bailly-Blanchard to deny the statements made in these dispatches emphatically. This formal statement was issued:
    "The State Department has authorized the American Embassy at Tokio to deny a San Francisco telegram which appeared in Japanese papers to the effect that preparations were being made for war. The report was to the effect that troops of artillery were being sent to Hawaii, and that the Philippine garrison was to be increased.
    "A few artillerymen have been sent to Hawaii in pursuance of plans adopted before this Administration began, but no increase is contemplated in the Philippine garrison. The changes that have taken place are only the customary exchange of regiments.
    "The department regrets that any newspaper or newspaper representative should send so misleading a telegram, from the United States."
    At the War Department Secretary Garrison and Major Gen. Wood, Chief of the Army General Staff, emphasized the denial of the misleading reports, and deplored the fact that any one should send such statements, the obvious effect of which must be to feed and stimulate war feeling in Japan.

    SAN JOSE, Cal., May 27.— In a letter received to-day by Walter G. Mathewson. Secretary of the San José Labor Council, Gov. Haram W. Johnson says that the anti-alien law enacted recently is one of the most drastic laws upon the subject that has ever been introduced in the California Legislature," and asserts that "any man who claims to favor an alien land law that will sign a referendum against this law is either an idiot or is bought."
    "Every other bill that has been before the Legislature for the last eight years," says the Governor's letter, "provided in one fashion or another for leasing, and the only two bills that were seriously discussed, during Mr. Bryan's stay here provided not only for leasing of land but for the right to purchase and hold for a limited period as well."
    Commenting upon labor opposition to the alien land law because it was regarded as less drastic than desired, the Governor says:
    "I have been shocked and horrified at the attitude of some of the labor people of San Francisco, but I am proud to say that those labor leaders whom we respect have taken the same position that your people in Santa Clara County have taken. We have done the big thing in this alien land legislation. We have laid the ghost that has been with us for so many years, and we have gone ahead and legislated on a subject that it was our legal and moral right to legislate upon.