State ex rel. Winston v. Morrison

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Gordon, J.

This action was brought in the superior court of Spokane county by the state on the relation of the attorney general to set aside a lease of realty made by the respondent Morrison to his co-respondent, Stewart— an alien who has not declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States—for the term of ninety-nine years. It is the contention of the plaintiff (appellant here) that the lease is in violation of the prohibition contained in section 33, article 2, of the state constitution, which is as follows:

*665“ The ownership of lands by…