The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-04-01
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PRESS CONTROL

Jealous for the guarding and the preservation of the high ideals
OF Americanism for which its members were ready to lay down their
lives when those United States were finally impeled to enter the world
war, moved by the pure spirit Of patriotism, the American Legion is
sponsoring a bill pending in the legislature for the curbing and control
of the foreign language press. No one in whose veins flows American
blood will question the motives which have led the legion as an organiza-
ton to have a bill drafted and to lend TO such bill hearty support. No
American but is with them in their intent, who does not agree with
them that evils o. the past must be eradicated for the future. But while
in perfect sympathy with the purpose for which the bill is designed
one may question the wisdom and the justice OF the measure as 1t has
Conclusive proof has been offered on more than one occasion that
some OF the Japanese newspapers in Honolulu, and perhaps elsewhere
in the Islands, have published editorials and other articles which are
subversive to American ideas and ideals, injurious to the great country
in which the writers and the publishers OF such articles are living. There
is evidence that SUCH abuse OF privilege mas no Deen nHequueHt DW III
instances has been habiual. Small wonder then that the patriotic mem
bers OF the Legion are seeking a remedy.
However, in seeking to prevent such publications it appears that
the bill. as presented has gone beyond and would work great hardship
yes, a wrong upon the innocent while intending merely to curb firmly
u mc W ti o uoe aosl, " tIo iii em nmsy a~oEn.t nhirrbb no fauIt has hern
and they are mostly t fn smaIer 0Tts, asamsl wnlen NO ph la"t ca mi zee En-
ever beyond reproach. There are publications in the Portuguese tongue
and Filipino publications as well All such publications are ca@ed with
the offending ones in the pending legislation.
The Chinese were brought here when labor was needed for the IN
dustres of the Islands. The Japanese were first induced to come here
and the FilPinos. They came as adults, they have passed the age when
it is easy to learn to read another language. If their newspapers
practically nothing but suppression of their language publications, these
residents OF the Islands are condemned to go without news OF the world,
may be asked, would labor remain in the Islands when subjected to such
treatment?
But aside from the industrial situation, wherein lies the fairness
of which Americans are fan to pride themselves? 1t is little short of
gross cruelty to subject foreigners resident with us to a deprivation OF
the right to read. it is condemning them to a life of ignorance.
If the bill shall be amended so as to have the territory employ
translators, then Maui News is heartily for it. This paper condemns
as bitterly as does any one the articles that some, not all, of the Japanese
newspapers have printed, it condemns their tone and their manner Of
conduct as well, it is completely in sympathy with the purpose of the
American Legion to keep all newspapers, no matter in what language
they be printed, from attacking this country, its policies and its pur-
poses or in seeking to undermine and cause to fall its ideals. 1t is in
trying to throw the burden of costs upon the publishers that this paper
finds the bill incompatible with American ideas of fairness, Justice and
right. ,4~=%a aj
And the bill is faulty in that respect for another reason. If the
translation be furnished by the publication, who is to say the translation
has been correctly rendered? viii it not be necessary for the Terri
tory still to have tranlators to check up on the persons employed by the
publishers to translate?
Maui News is for the strict control of the foreign language press,
not for its suppression until it is al ocender and then for the sup
preston of the offending publication only. 1t is for such control just
as it is for the strict control of language schools and in that connec-
ton the editor has for two years consistently advocated the making
of japanese, taught by Hawaiian born Japanese teachers an optional
course in the public schools.
Unless amended as suggested the so-caIed American Legion bill
should have no place in the statute books of an American territory.