Evening star., 1946-01-27

frontal attack on charges that if state
hood were granted, those citizens of
japanese extraction, numbering ap-
proximately one-third of the popula-
ton, would control the electorate.
He termed it "a gross untruth and a
SANDER upon the integrity and Amer
icaniSm of our citizens of japanese der
ivation. The military record of the
Tooth Infantry and the 442d (rnilitary
units composed of "AJAs") dispels any
question of loyalty. The complete alb
Sence of any sabotage by citizens or
aliens of Japanese ancestry during the
war has been vouched for by military
commanders in this area"
He said the AJAs always have had
less than their share" of representation
In the local Legislature and that race
has never been a serious factor" in
elections
Among others who supported this
view were the president of the Univer-
sity of Hawaii, DR.. Gregg NJ Sinclair:
the previous Delegate from Hawaii,
Samuel w. King; leaders of both the
Democratic and Republican parties in
the islands, and many others.
Secretary Ickes, in his statement
advocating statehood, also commented
upon the lack of any evidence of bloc
voting
Many observers regard the race uues-
ton as one of the most important OBJ
tn sp,
of the subcommittee West Coast mem
bers, Representative Angel, made this
plain to the Hawaiians. He said the
mainlanders were quite unfamiliar with
racial conditions in Hawaii and it would
be the subcommittee task TO explain
<he situation on Capitol Hill.
According to the latest statistics, pub
lished by the Board of Health, Hawaii's
total civilian population as of July l,
l945, was slightly over 100000, of which
about 81 per cent were American citi-
ZenS
The latest available breakdown by
racial groups is for 1941, no figures hav-
ing been published during the war.
These figures showed that of the jap
anese, l24.351 were citizens and 35,183.
aliens. Of those listed as Caucasians.
1929 were citizens and 1928 were
aliens. However, those not listed as
Caucaslans were not necessarily of ORR
entail extraction. There were over
l4,246 pure Hawaiians, 52445 part
Hawaiians and $3.50 Puerto Ricans (all
OF them citizens). The remainder of
the population consisted mainly of Chi
neSe, Koreans and Filipinos.
There has been an upward trend in
the non-Oriental population and a pro-
gresslve downward trend in noncitizens
year by year. A joint congressional
committee which visited the islands in
1887 to investigate statehood pointed
out that immigration, except from the
continental United States, had. halted,
and added:
1T is obvious that the time Is not
distant when there will be practically
no aliens in Hawaii. nor indeed any
even of foreign birth"
Now Closer to WASHINGTON
Many Of the arguments which pre-
vlously figured Importantly in any dis
cussion of statehood for Hawaii have.
through time and circumstances. been,
reduced to minor points or have disap-
peared, proponents say.
Among these are Hawaii's remote
ness from the rest of the nation. In,
this day of rapid transportation and
communication, Hawaii is in some re-
speets just as close as other parts of the,
Nation, and closer to Washington than
were any of the States when they en-
tered the Union, excepting the origi-,
nal 13.
The New American Flag 8
The argument is also heard in Jest.
but perhaps with some sentimental
force behind it, that new State would
knock the flag out of kilter." The
HaWallans have ready answer for that
one: They've already designed a new
flag with seven rows of seven stars.
The Constitution sets up no require
ments for Territories seeking to become
States, but the territorial status is gen.
orally considered an apprenticeship"
looking to that end. Gov. Stainback
told the Larcade Committee that Ha-
waits property value assessment or
over half billion dollars exceeded
that of any Territory at the time of
admission except Oklahoma The island
population is also greater than that
of any State when admitted. againl
excepting Oklahoma.
HawaiiS internal revenue tax pay-
ments to the United States Treasury
totaled $1740o0,00o in 1945, or more
than IA of the States. -,
Cheered by Truman Backing -
The former island kingdom has an
other proud boast-she leads the Ma
tion in War Bond sales. From MaSv
1s41, to November, 1945, the latest fig
ures available, her per capita purchases
of Bonds were $54293, compared with
national average of 1921. The District
of Columbia, with $52743 per capita.
had to take second place. ia
If it is true that humanity sympa-
thizes with strenuous aspiration.
Hawaiians figure they have a big part
OF their battle won President Truman's
statehood indorsement-the first given,
by any President has cheered them
greatly.