The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-25
HAWAII HOPES
FOR ELECTION
ON STATEHOOD
Agitation Will Be Renewed
When Philippines Are
Independent
BY wendell RURCH
United Pres. Staff Correspondent


Agitation for Hawaii's statehood
probably will start anew when
complete independence is granted
to the Philippine islands.
No other part Of the United
States is watching progress of
the Philippines bid for freedom
with keener interest than Hawaii,
from these viewpoints:
Racially, there are approx
matcly 10000 Filipinos in Hawai-,
Il majority Of them young single
men. About one-half are employ
ed on sugar plantations, the re-
mainder on pineapple plantations
and other enterprises.
Defensively, removal of the
American naval base at Cavitc, if
carried out, and withdrawal Of
American army forces from the
Philippines will leave Hawaii the
spearhead Of Pacific defenses.
Economically, Philippine sugar
potentially is 4 ruinous COMPETE
tor Of Hawaiian sugar, due to
much lower production costs;
should the American and world
sugar marketing setup break
down, Hawaiian sugar companies
might face economic ruin.
INDEPENDENCE FEELING
STRONG
There is no question but that
the overwhelming majority Of Fill
ipinoS in Hawaii favor independ-
ence. Classcd as citizens of the
commonwealth, majority of
them live with the expectation Of
returning to the Philippines.
Only a few weeks ago Govern
or Joseph PoindeXter elected Il
plan to organize Il division Of
"PhlippincS National Volunteers"
cMvisaged as Il part of the "Citi-
zenS' Army Of the Philippines" III
Hawaii. Territorial and federal
laws prohibited such an Organ-
cation.
An idea of the strong tie be-
tween FilipinoS in Hawaii and
their homeland is given by figures
compiled by the Hawaii Sugar
Planters association, showing the
number Of FilipinOs arriving IN
the territory, and departing each
year.
In 1892, 9G3 Filipinos arrived
as sugar planters sought to COM
bat widespread strikes and find a
better type of laborer for field
work. In the same year 7,245 Fill
ipinos returned to the Philippines
and the Pacific coast. 4 large
number Of those sent back were
indigemIS.
Only 4 small number Of Filipi-
nos are permitted to enter the
territory each year. OF those re
turning to the Philippines, many
fail to obtain the necessary re-
turn permits, and thus are barred
by immigration laws from return
ing to Hawaii
EXODUS is EXPECTED
Late in 1897 the Hawaiian Sug-
ar Planters association advised
FGiHClSCD Ill Ollst, q 'i"oIipl iNp
rcsentative of President Manuel
QueZon, that it would extend to
Filipin0S sugar and pineapple
plantation workers more lcmcnt
contracts providing return pas
sage. A considerable increase in
the number Of FilipinOs returning
To their homeland is expected as
4 result Of these provisions. Most
Filipinos feel that greater Oppor-
tunity exists for them in a free
Philippine home than elsewhere.
From defense standpoint,
Philippine indcpende nee will
sharpen the need for powerful ma
val and military forces in Ha-
wall, which more than ever will
become the first line Of American
defense in the Pacific.
Philippine independence is not
expected to have any economic
rcpcrcussions unfavOrable to Ha-
wall. 1t is extremely unlikely that
the present United States sugar
marketing and quota system will
be upset, or that Philippine quo
tas will be materially increased.
Hawaii's political interest in
free Philippines involves the re-
peated failure Of congress to CON
slider Hawaii statehood. There IS
strong likelihood that the next
session Of the territorial legisla-
ture, early in 1889, will author
ize an island pIebiscite on the Is
sue of statehood, with expecta-
ton Of an overwhelming vote III
favor Of the proposal.