Evening star., 1932-04-16

Condemnation Of local conditions ir
the Hawaiian Islands, with recommen-
dations for greater control by the Fed
eral Government, as made by Assistant
Attorney General Seth w. Richardson
arouseS favorable response on the main
land It is felt that the results Of local
politics are similar to those in some OF
the large cities Of the country, but that
ii is necessary TO establish reform
through national measures.
What Hawaii needs is no strait
jacket" according to the San Francisco
Chronicle, "but merely an effective sys-
TEN of law enforcement removed as far
as is humanity possible from the inf1u-
ence of local politics. With such a
system, quiet and security should be
far easier to achieve in these isolated
islands than on the mainland" The
Chicago Daily News believes that ''po-
litical paralysis and breakdown of law
and order in such a community as
Hawaii, and confronted by its peculiar
racial problems, might have more Sc
riouS consequences than would a similar
breakdown in a mainland city or State
That paper points out that it is "a
vital outpost of the Nation in a portion
of the globe where tranquility is par
ticularly essential" and that "the larger
and more enduring interests of the
American people as a whole and OF
international relationships outweigh
such considerations as local patriotism
or theories about representative gov
ernment."
Concentration Of police and prose-
cutting authority in Washington ends
home rule in vital particulars" states
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, with
the further conclusion as to conse-
quences: Such long distance opinion as
may be filtered out of the confusion OF
reports that have come from Honolulu
in recent months is likely to confirm
the apparent necessity for the drastic
action proposed. But the fact cannot
be recognized without also recognizing
the likelihood that the change in the
government of Hawaii and the setting
up Of a police power definitely respon-
sible to Washington may involve polit-
ical consequences that will contribute
to future complex"
4 4 x
THE American investigator" remarks
the Houston Chronicle, calls spade
a spade when he concisely labels the
Police Department of Honolulu as i'm
potent, undisciplined, neglectful and un-
intelligent, with its chief concern DO
litical activity And his recommenda.
ton that the Federal Government al
Washington assume closer RESPONSE
bility' for law and order will stir vary
ing degrees of resentment and approba-
I tion from the more responsible civic
elements of the islands" The Chronicle
adds that running through the Rich
ardson report. red and sinister thread
Is the underlying tone of pessimism con-
corning the ability of America to make
Americans out of the melting-pot prod
uctS of this paradise of the Pacific. D
The Houston paper concludes: 1T Is
possible, as Gen. Richardson suggests
that apparently reactionary steps must
be taken so as TO safeguard the rights
of the white Americans in the islands
who are, after all, hopelessly small
minority, and who can BE- outvoted on
jury or at municipal election almost
at will by the polyglot groups Of popula-
ton who control by sheer force of num-
bers"
Taking note of the fact that the IN
vestigators are convinced that stronger
government, administered by officials
ASSOCIATED from local elements In the
population will be necessary" the Buff
falo Evening News offers the Judgment
"Of course, it does not follow that SINH
lar results would come from independ-
ence Of the Philippines. They are, In
fact, probably more self-ruling now in
local affairs of the different communi-
| ties than they would be under an in
! dependent native constitution. So far
as history and surface appearance 70
however. the Philippines afford much
less favorable elements for maintaining