Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-19
SETTLEMENT OF
FILIPINO ISSUE
MUST BE FACED
So Declares A. A. Wilder in
Letter Discussing Political
Questions Raised
Editor HonoIulu star.BulIetin.

Editor Honolulu Star Bulletin.
Sir: In an editorial published in
your paper OF Thursday, February H.,
1916, you say that the present Filipino
issue and discussion is raised as part
OF the political row started by Mr.. A.
A. Wilder In his campaign against the
governor" and that any attempt to
inject a Filipino issue into politics
should be promptly and emphatically
rebuked."
You are in error in stating that
have started any political row against
the governor. ANY row, so called, be-
tween the governor and myself, he
started himself
The Filipino question is bigger than
Governor Pinkham, or myself, or any
controversy that We may have with
each other. II is here and II must be
settled. In the past, in these Islands,
In my humble judgment, there has
been too much of this hush, hush"
business, on the theory that the evil
day in settling questions vital to the
interests of this territory could be
postponed.
/ have always been opposed to the
Filipinos. / recognize that If the Fill
pinos wish to come here of their own
free will and at their own expense,
they can do so. But, you know, as
well as / know, that racial differences
exist between the white people and
the Hawaiians on one side and the
Fflipinos and Orientals on the other.
These racial differences are such that
the two races can never mix any more
than oil and water can be mixed. You
know, as well as / know, that the Fill
pinos at present In this territory, APP
proximately 10000, commit more
crimes, and crimes other than gam
bling and being present at gambling
games, than people of any other ma
tionality, more even than the Japanese
although there are about $4,000 of
them living in this territory
You know, as we'll as | know, that
In order for the Filipinos to get into
the National Guard they must first
have declared their intentions to be-
come citizens. You know, as well as
! know, that If they become citizens
they will vote. You know, as we'll as
I know, that that will mean the ex-
tinction politically of the Hawaiians In
this territory You. know, as we'll as
/ know, that these Filipinos have been
brought into this territory on every
regular STEAMER that comes from Ma
Mia. and that they are being brought
here by the planters at the expense
of the planters.
/ am perfectly willing to be held re-
sponsible for injecting the so-calIed
Filipino issue into politics. and / am
perfectly willing that that injection
should be emphatically rebuked, but
insist that it be rebuked by a major
ity of the voters, and decline to con-
slider it a rebuke because it does not
accord with the. policy of your paper
nor with the ideas of Governor Pink
ham or any of his satellites.
Let Governor Pipkham call a spe-
cial session Of the legislature, and let
the legislature, If 1t SO wills, amend
the statutes so that the Filipinos may
be legally admitted into the National
Guard. This special session of the
legislature will involve special cleo
ton to I'LL the place of Senator Metz
ger who has permanently removed
from this territory. At this special
election challenge Governor Pink
ham, or any person he may name, to
debate the questions involved before
the voters in this territory, and stand
ready and willing to abide by any re-
Duke that comes from a majority orr
he voters.
This question is SO big that it must !
/.