New-York tribune., 1908-03-08
JAPANESE SEEK VOTES.
Certificates Making Children in
Hazcan Citizens Increasing.

Honolulu. Feb c1-Thera Is suddenly evident
movement among the Japarese po2u1a1ion of Ia
waii 10 obtain certificates Of Hawaiian birth for
their children born in this territorv. For mary
years there has existed in Hawaii authority OF iaF
for the Issuance Of certificates cf Hawaiian brs
To the children Of aliens resident IN the Islands
These certificates are issued only after hearing
analogous to trial. in which testimony Of Ia
waiian birth is heard under oath The certificate
when issued. bears photograph g the person GER
titled and includes a transcript Of the evidence
Hitherto these certificates have been sought chet
y by the Chinese. 10 whom they were Of espsc.I
value when they wished - return II Fl7waH ron
China. and since annexation IN enabling thoss
holding them 10 so TO Tie mainland OF the United
States But within the last few months sppiea-
tions from japanese parents hare increased %
rapidly that they far exceed those of all otns
natOnalites combined a large proportion OF tAs
time of the secretary OF the territory Is corslno
in hearing japanese applications. and f7rcs OF
clerks is kept busy transcribins testimony and pre-
paring the certificates.
AS the cost Of a certifCsta is seldom less t1a1
so or So. and is sometimes as high as 50 o"ins
TO the TACT that witnesses must be tranSpcrsa
from various parts Of this island and from enef
islands OF the group. the Importance attached 70 -
may be judged
As the japanese children in the public scnoo'
oUtnumber those Of any other blood. and as ni7s'
of them were born in the islands and hencs ar'
American citizens by law. ft can readily be se'l
that it will be only few years bstore the Japane''
anese will be by far the LARGEST element in tn'
voting population. and the movement 70 o0'1-
certificates Of Hawaiian birth Is taken as an III
dicdtiOn that they intend exercise their poht'-
rights as soon they acquire them Whli7 =
tifCates Of Hawaiian birth viii not Re tns V1-'
means by which thoss really born IN Ha"aH 80
use their right to vote, Il Will naturally os enc =
the readiest means of establishing American 49,
zenshp 4 prerequisite for Vctfns-
More than quarter OF the pupils IN the F~1
schools are japanese There are more uia'
couples among the japanese than there are an''.'
any other nationality in the islands. and 'as
anese immigrants to Hawaii has been o. annla'le-
As. even under the japanese rss~
tions restricting emigration from Japan 10 lava
more women and wives may come. the nufn's
marriages among the Japanese IS likely u -
tinue to increase and the number Of JaPaneSe 0
dren in the public schools 10 grow n
The applications for certificates come I'o' .
classes of Japanese. fi,Id iIbOrerS and SerV4AE !,
Well merchants and professional men. = -
were a concerted movement eventually To gam :,
troll OF Hawaii through voting strength y - -
hardly take more effective method foF So, 49,,
pliShins that result. The movement has aIu1
ough examination of the legal status of chi'-,
clusion has been reached that az least Wn4's :.
parents are permanently domiciled in Hawai-
children are American citizens.