The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-08
[ Cover the World
by WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs-

by WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS-1
UTASHINGTON May S-will statehood for
w Hawaii, which Delegate Samuel Wilder
King has Just asked Congress 70 grant, be for
Didcen on the ground that its mixed population
might endanger the national defense?
AT this moment the American feet is steam
ing toward that 5000 yOO0- square-mile area of
the North Pacific where for the next five weeks
1t will hold the greatest naval maneuvers in its
history.
The Hawaiian Islands, Uncle SANS Pacific
Gibraltar, will be the southwestern pivot of the
vast triangle within which the battle practice
will be carried out. AS long as Hawaii is in
American hands, experts declare our West
Coast is safe But should Hawaii fall, the West
Coast would be at the "enemys" mercy
For these reasons opponents Of statehood are
expected TO block It if they can. Other great
powers, they say, covet this crossroads of the
Pacific-particularly Japan Relaxation of
vigilance on the part Of this country would find
some other power ready to take advantage of
It, they warn.
just now the United States is spending
hundred million dollars strengthening the
Hawaiian defenses Pearl Harbor, greatest naval
base under our flag, and one Of the greatest in
the world is being improved
NTHAT is the use of all these precautions,
w the anti-statehood faction in Congress
asks, If the United States intends to turn the
territory over to predominantly Asiatic popu-
lation who, in turn, might deliver it to their
kin in the Western Pacific? Asiatics, they as
sert, outnumbered Caucasians out there by four
70 one.
Instead of making Hawaii the 49th state of
the Union, there are those who would deprive
it OF its territorial status and turn it over to
military rule
ITO do this" Delegate King said to the
writer, would be the biggest possible mistake.
am Navy man myself. I went to Annapolis.
l have the highest respect for the Army and
Navy of my country. But Hawaiis government
not only should remain civilian, but its ter
rtorial status must eventually give way to state
hood.
Figures may not lie but they can give dis
torted view of things. That is what opponents
of statehood do with population figures.
THE latest count gives Hawaii a total Of 376,
948 inhabitants. There are approximately 3D.,
900 Hawaiians, $4,000 CaucaSian-HawaanS,
5000 Asiatic- Hawaians, 10000 Portuguese, 1000
Porto Ricans, 1900 Spanish and $4,000 other
Caucasions.
Then there are $1,000 Chinese $4,000
Japanese, 1000 Koreans, $4,000 Filpnos and
700 other Orientals.
The first group are just as American as a
cross section of the citizens of the American
mainland. The American people themselves are
a vast mixture.
Next how are you going to classify the
FilipinoS? The Philippine Islands have been
AlHSl4Cou CCAA4COAJ 4OA % yCdIS anu oGAAA dAS'
4 for the Chinese, japanese and Koreans
n they have proved. over many years of eX-
perence to be perfectly loyal Hawauans. There
are no serious racial problems in Hawaii, no
political bocS based on race. To embark, at
this late day, upon a course of differentiation
between races out there would be one of the
greatest tragedies of all time. We would be
manufacturing trouble where no appreciate
trouble now exists"
There is nothing to indicate furthermore, it
is pointed out, that citizen of Japanese ex-
traction would not be as good an official as one
of English IriSl German, Italian other
extraction.
Proof that no serious racial combinations
trouble the Hawaiian scene is revealed by the
fact that there are only two Japanese members
of the Legislature, despite the Japanese being
racally the largest single group in the islands
In the last election in Oahu (where Homo
lulu is situated, candidate of Japanese ances-
try ran on the Republican ticket and another
on the Democratic ticket Both were defeated.
Previously on the Island of Kauai, candidate
of Chinese blood against a candidate OF
Japanese blood in a community that was almost
solidly Japanese. The Chinese won.
Hawaiians said to be instinctively hostile
to racial blocs. At the slightest suggestion OF
such thing the rest combine to defeat it.
Tales of how Hawaii has gone ASatic are
characterized as pure invention. Oriental i'm
migration has long since been banned Those
now on the islands either old and rapidly
dying out, else are second and third generation,
thoroughly Americanized and proud of it,