Evening star., 1937-11-27
Delegate From Hawaii
Replies to Lanier Letter

To the Editor Of The Star:
My attention has been called to q let
ter in The Washington Star of November
4, 1887, signed Alexander Sidney Lanier,
which states that the request of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii for Statehood is pre-
posterous."
AS Hawaii's representative in Congress
may say that we welcome a full and
frank discussion of the pros and cons of
Statehood, but deplore such assertions
as those made by Mr.. Lanier, disclos-
ing bias, ignorance and an absolute lack
OF understanding of local conditions.
Mr.. Lanier says that children OF Japa.
nese parentage in Hawaii owe allegiance
to Japan and they could not disavow
this II they would and they would not If
they could" This statement alone shows
complete lack of knowledge. In 1924
Japan disavowed jurisdiction over any
child born in Hawaii or any other part
OF the United States after 1924. Japan,
In fact, has met America more than half
way In the matter of clarifying the citi-
zenShip of children of Japanese parent
age born on American soil. Such chill
dren born in Hawaii are American citi-
zens, having the same status as those
born In any other part of the Nation.
Mr.. Lanier's statement that "the situ-
alton In Hawaii imperatively demands, in
the interest OF our national defense, that
the present territorial government be
abolished and commission form of gov
ernment be created with Army and Navy
representatives" can be answered in his
own words by saying it is "preposter-
GUS" proposal.
HaWaiis government is every bit as
good as that of any other part of Amer
lea. The islands have been we'll gov
erned from the day they were annexed as
an American territory in 1898. Why
Should the Army and Navy in time of
peace be placed in control of free. hon.
est, decent, enterprising section of the
Nation merely because it happens to be
contiguous territory? Hawaii needs
bow to no other American community in
the matter Of government.
Mr.. Lanier also discusses the "acouisi-
ton OF Hawaii. Hawaiis entrance into
the Nation was a voluntary act on the
part OF the people of Hawaii He fur
ther speaks Of "our possession OF Hawaii. :"
Hawaii Is not possession and never has
been possession of the United States.
1t Is an incorporated Territory of the
american Nation, paying its full share of
the Governments cost and sending into
the treasury at Washington more tax
money than II States of the Union.
Hawaii has been patient in this matter
OF criticism from persons unfamiliar with
What the Territory is. but it deplores
such statements as those by Mr.. Lanier
which show biased ignorance of Hawaii's
true status.
The Congress Of the United States,
represented by 10 Senators and Repre-
sentatives, has just concluded a compre-
hensive study OF Hawaii's petition to be
admitted as the forty-ninth State In the
Union. These men delved into every
phase OF life in the Territory. They will
submit their report to the next regular
session Of Congress
understand Mr.. Laner visited Hawaii
over period OF several years, his last
visit having been made twenty-se seven
years ago. would suggest that he is
hardly qualified to paint an accurate pic
ture OF conditions in the Territory.
SAMUEL WILDER KING.
Delegate From Hawaii.