Evening star., 1932-01-28
Island Political Standards
Blamed for Hawaiian Crimes

/ With news columns reporting charges
and counter charges as to where the
| blame lies for the recent disturbances
! III Hawai-, including number OF at
| tachS on women, f1ogging and muir
! der, the editorial opinion of the United
| States shows a majority view that the
| situation should be subjected TO Wig
orous investigation 1t is generally held
that the local political conditions in
| the islands are responsible for the al
legged failure of law enforcement, and
| a demand is expressed for a cleanup OF
this situation, though there are Sug-
geStionS that American cities show sim
liar faults and that judgment should
be suspended until further information
is obtained as to general conditions on
the islands.
When courts fail the people are
prone to take matters into their own
hands" suggests the Oklahoma City
Oklahoman, pointing out that the
facts in themselves convict Hawaiian
courts of inadequacy at least" while
had the law been enforced vigorously
and had real protection been given the
people. mob law would not have dis
graced the paradise OF the Pacific"
Referring to the attack on the wife
of naval officer and the subsequent
murder of one of the alleged attackers.
the New York Herald Tribune holds
that Hawaii seems to have been quick
to recognize the tragedy as a symptom
of condition, and to know that what
the condition requires Is exposure and
cure" The paper emphasizes the sure
instinct Of those citizens Of Hawaii who
see the whole horrible affair for what
| it really is-the result of their own
zs.,So o.Ja olr Nf fInr oOlNi Inc
itics. easy corruption and careleSSneSS
which are its inevitable products"
The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader,
pointing out that "the unwillingnesS of
the police force to assist in prosecution
and gathering evidence has been
noted" feels that Congress may well
investigate" while the ogden Standard
Examiner holds that such an inveSti-
| CATION will help to impress the au-
| thorities in Honolulu that they are
under severe criticism and their loose
| methods cannot longer be tolerated.
| The Milwaukee Sentinel, while doubt
| ing change in the laws of the islands
! will be necessary, demands enforcement
| of the law, with the conclusion that
1.-The police department of Honolulu
| undoubtedly is corrupt and inefficient.
and that "a bad police department
| should not be permitted to disrupt an
entire government, which has func-
| toned very satisfactorily"
Ill-feeling known to exist inspires the
| belief on the part of the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram that there should be a
| thorough inquiry with view to de-
termining not only the responsibility
| for recent outrages, but also the meas
ures needed to prevent disorders in the
future" The Star Telegram continues:
In this inquiry, one important side
issue question should not be overlooked.
| That question concerns the fitness OF
| the Hawaiian population for the degree
| of autonomy it now enjoys. 1t may be
advisable. indeed imperative, to
strengthen the governmental machinery
ct the Pacific dcrsndency. The cleo
| tire system may have to be modified
Iend more authority vested in, or re-
| turned to. the W2r Department at
! Washington and its representatives In
| the islands. Democracy is a boon cnly
II and when its benef1ciaries are ready
| for that form OF government. Order
| safety and decency are fundamental
requisites, and the mere form Of gov
ernment Is secondary consideration. u
| Commenting on the Hawaiian Gov
ernor's statement that one of the per
| sons involved in the assault case which
| attracted public attention was freed
! from prison on another case because
there were "extenuating circum-
stances" The Appleton Post-Crescent
replies: There always are extenuat-