The Omaha guide., 1946-05-25

nero, ladies and gentlemen
1t gives me great pleasure on the
occasion Of ny first visit to the Vir-
gin Islands to join with you in inau-
gurating your new Governor. This Is
both a festive and a solemn occasion.
1t is a time for taking stock OF our
accomplishments and for rechecking
our policies in the democratic admin
istration Of the territories under the
jurisdiction of the United States.
The Congress Of the United States
is the policy-making branch Of our
democratic Government. The Depart
ment Of the Interior and the Cow
ernor of the Virgin Islands administer
the policies laid down by the Com
gress. Congressional policy has been
to help the people of the Virgin Is
lands to help themselves. Congress
believes that the most effective action
to resolve your problems is not that
conceived in Washington but that
which is inspired and developed with
in the Islands.
The Department of the Interior has
the primary responsibility Of seeing
that the Governor is a man who IN
derstands the problems which con
front him, a man who can get along
with the people he is to govern, a
man with the intelligence and imagi-
nation to work out with you a o.
structive program for the advancement
Of the Islands, helping the people
most by putting them in a position to
help themselves. 1t is also the policy
of the United States Government to
consider the aspirations Of the people
in the territories themselves in estab-
fishing governmental controls. The
eventual attainment Of self-govem-
ment for the territories is the funda-
mental goal toward which our policy
is directed.
The Governorship of the Virgin Is
lands is a challenge to the ability and
wisdom of any man. | do not have to
catalog for you the number of excel
lent reasons why William HASTE will
make a great Governor. Governor
HASTE has what no other Governor
before him has had as he began his
term Of Office: a thorough knowledge
of the social and economic problems
of the territory and an understanding
Of the people themselves. This knowl-
edge was acquired during his work
as Assistant Solicitor Of the Interior
Department and later during the Is
months he spent as Judge here in the
Federal District Court.
Your affection and enthusiasm for
William HASTE, expressed through
communications to the Congress and
the President and to the Department
Of the Interior, as well as editorials
and news comment in your newspa-
pers have demonstrated your approval
s of his appointment. This expression
; has given US the feeling hat Governor
HaStie'S appointment is the next best
thing to his having been chosen in a
popular election.
In his capacity as Assistant Solici-
tor Of the Interior Department Gov
ernor HASTE had much to do with
the drafting of the Organic Act Of the
Virgin Islands-legiSlation which has
been tested through use of almost 10
years. Its revision now in the direc-
ton of an increased measure of self
government is Of paramount interest
to you. One Of the recommendations
made by your Organic Act Reform
Committee that the Islands be en-
titled to a Resident Commissioner has
been incorporated in a bill which |
will Don recommend to the Con-
greSS. | know you want the right to
elect your own Governor, and | know
that hat provision too will come with
time.
Governor HASTE has a great oppor-
tunity. | am sure that he will prepare
a practical program to build a firm
economy for the future development
Of the Islands. | am sure that under
his administration private capital in.
vestments will be encouraged and
larger markets will be built up for 10.
cal products and that the tourist trade
will be promoted.
You will always find the Depart
ment of the Interior ready to give al
the aid it can to practicable projects
But | cannot emphasize too strongly
the importance, for your political anc
economic future, of a demonstration
through legislation and administrative
programs that you are able to plar
and build for yourselves.
We have all come here with higE
hopes that a new period in the hiStor
Of the Virgin Islands is about to be
gin. Certainly we are being given
unique opportunity to test the abilit,
Of democracy to solve difficult politi
cal and economic problems. The abil
ity Of democratic society to correc
the inequalities, ~artifcially estab
lished, which deny economic or poll
ticalfreedom because Of race, color .
creed is a basic test Of our no.orn