Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-03
The Draft and Alien Allies

Z
Washington authorities have found way for get
ting around very troublesome feature of the
draft law
Registration day in this city developed a very
large percentage Of alien orientals who are not
only willing but anxious to be included ID the
draft for active service.
Under previous interpretations OF the law, THESE
aliens of friendly nations and allies In the Wa1
are barred from participating in the drawing. The
law bases the proportion Of the draft on the total
number of residents within the draft age, and then
provides that the men drawn shall be exclusively
from among citizens.
This promised to create the curious condition IN
Hawaii of making proportion OF citizen ehgl
bles much higher than, for instance, IN southern
or New England state where the percentage OF
alien residents is small. 1t throws burden on
the citizen out of all proportion to his numbers and
at the same time bars the alien from satls1ylne
q worthy desire to bear his share in the fight
This disproportion did not escape attention when
the original bill went through Congress but 1t
failed of recognition in the final law.
Congressman Rogers of Massachusetts,, who is
well known in Honolulu, has introduced a resolu'
ton to bring about an amendment Of the law, and
the discussion of his measure occupied large part
of the session of the house of representatives on
July IL. Mr.. Rogers in summarizing the situation
that will be well understood in this Territory with
its large friendly alien population, said
LET US assume, without deciding, that it will not
be practicable present at least to utilize for mill
tary service citizens Of countries other than those
with which the United States is making common cause
in the Can any good reason be adduced why the
citizens Of countries which are fighting Germany To-
day should not, IL of proper age and If otherwise
available be required to render military service some
where? 1t perhaps does not make very muchh differ
ence so far as inherent justice goes whether these
mar ired To
own country in the armed forces of the United
States. Clearly they should be required to serve
somewhere
sJust how numerous the citizens subjects Of the
allied powers within the United States in fact
are It is difficult to ascertain with degree Of &C
curacy The census of 1910 shows that there were
then 1S5l5sS6 foreignborn in the United States An
szanination Of the countries o. orsn shows mat over
war with Germany In other words about 81 per cent
OF all foreign born originated In the allied countries
II seems probable that this same percentage would
approximately at least be maintained the Of
the aliens who registered June g. this is true.
and il between 100000 and 100000 aliens registered
On june 5, somewhere between $4,000 and 100000
Of these were nationals Of the allies. Why should not
they fight in behalf Of the both Of their country
Of origin and their adopted country? think no fair
man viii be able to say.
Further, It would seem as II the allied countries,
IL have treaty stipulations with some Of them,
would unanimously and cordially, il the suggestion
made, permit during the tendency Of the pres
as we might desire within the armed forces Of the
United States The numbers large and, the war
goes on, may prove to be mighty and even deter
minaye factor in the result Further said earlier
sin my remarks, 1t is Of great importance in a great
that the spirit of fairness and equality be
where observed. II l am not mistaken, our citizens
VIII, almost without exception. deeply resent the
cidenta exemption from any military obligation Of
their alien neighbors For the sake then Of mill
tary effectiveness and for the sake Of national
morale reasonable and equitable solution should
be achieved have prepared and introduced in con-
to take MP with the allied governments the whole mat
ter with view to securing consent for the inclusion
OF the available nationals Of those countries In the
armed forces Of the United States
II cannot too often repeat that our duty q nation
is to win this war. One Of the ways in which
strengthen ourselves for the combat lie to to 1t
that laws and the operation Of laws do justice
to all. We have selfish interest in this struggle;
we are simply seeking a nation to make the world
better place in which to live. 1t is for us to keep
house in order and ourselves to e that Justice
which are preparing with our hfe's blood to exact
from others"
If we may Judge the attitude of the alien in the
United States from the remarks of the allied aliens
of Hawaii there need be no doubt of the unani-
nous approval that would greet Congressman
Rogers resolution, which reads:
ttR4solved, etc.. That the Secretary of State be,
and he is hereby, requested to open diplomatic ne
Ootiations with the Governments of the several
countries at war with a country with which the
limited States is at war with a view to obtaining
their approval and sanction for action by the
United States looking to the imposition upon such
citizens of those countries are within the United
States of the liability to and performance of mill
tary service in the armed forces of the United
States during the continuance of the present war
between the United States and Germany, and to
renort to the Congress of the United States as
soon as practicable the result of such negotiations
Exotic and utra-scientific discussion at the Amer
ican Medical Association brought forth learned con
clnsions of the origin of papa and mama, deduced
-. nbotooraphy of sound The next step will be