Evening star., 1947-06-26
The Political MlI
Bill for Hovoiii il Statehood
Slated for Action in House
Measure Given 6. O. r. Blessing !;
Vote Seen Early in July
Rv Gonld TsnroI,e ssss
The Political Mil
BY Gould Lincoln

Y Ok0 CGCH Early IN July
BY Gould Lincoln
Hawaii q territory Of the United States for
many years. Is knocking seriously at the door
for statehood. So seriously that the Republican
leadership has agreed TO. give the harrington
statehood bill Its opportunity In the House be-
fore adiournament Of the present session. No
specified day has yet been selected by Speaker
Martin and Majority Leader Halleck. It may be
early IN July, when measures which, are now
pressing for final consideration and action prior
to the close Of the fiscal year. June 80. have
been disposed of.
Delegate Joseph r. harrington. Republican.
who has represented Hawaii in the House since
hiselection in 1872 Is convinced that majority
OF the House win support statehood for the ter
ritory when the showdown comes. The Re-
publican Party, through Its national conven-
ton and through its National Committee, has
given It's blessing to the proposal. And, of great
Importance, President Truman has recon-
mended the enactment of the necessary legis-
lation-which takes only majority vote In :
both House and Senate. to which the signature
OF the President must be attached. Fortunately
for the proponents of statehood. there is no
likelihood OF veto. S% ~
Bill ON House Calendar
The House Committee on Public Lands, Of
which Representative WEIGH, Republican, of
California is chairman, reported the Earring
ton bill unanimously to the House and 1t Is now
on the calendar. A similar bill has been intro
duced by Senator Knowland, Republican, of
California and is before the Senate Public
Lands Committee. No action has been had by
the Senate committee and none is In sight
certainly during the, present session OF Con-
gress Chairman Butler, Republican. Of Me-
braska has expressed grave doubts about the
advisability of admitting Hawaii to statehood
at this time However, If the House acts favor
ably on the pending bill, the pressure for ac-
ton In the Senate will intensity.
Should Hawaii become the 4oth State, 1t
will be the first In noncontiguous territory.
With rapid communications OF today, how
ever, this is scarcely drawback. The progress
of the islands under the territorial form OF
government has been remarkable, both socially
and economically. The population is estimated
today at more than 5o00o0-more than that
of any State at the time Of It's admission to
the Union except Oklahoma. Under the cen
sus of 1910 Hawaii had a greater population
than four States-Delaware, Nevada, Vermont
and wyoming It Appropriated the popula-
tion of half dozen more. The resources and
industries OF the islands, the taxes paid, the
school system, the standard Of living, the wages
paid labor. compared favorably with those In
many of the States. AS the House COMMITTEES
said In It's report on the Harrington bill: "Ha-
waii has been territory for 46 years and now
appears to be fully capable Of self-govern-
ment."
Melting Pot of Peoples.
Hawaii Is q melting pot OF peoples, on q
smaller scale, such as the United States has
been. As early as 1854 steps were taken by
the Hawaiian people looking toward admission
into the United States-as State. In 1894
Hawaii became republic. Three years later,
Hawaii was annexed to the United States
through the ratification of a treaty negotiated
in Washington by the Hawaiian Senate and the
adoption of the sNewlands resolution by the
Senate Of the United States. e~s
The original Hawaiian people, estimated 10
number -aoo, 600 IN i77s, have declined In num-
ber to ,lO988 in 1s45, or only % per cent Of
the total population Of $4,000. Caucasians
number 1858; Japanese, 163,300; Chinese,
3o005; Puerto Ricans, s,0ao; Filipinos, 454s4.
and Koreans, 7,o42. The Caucasian population
has increased steadily over the years. The per-
centage OF Japanese was at It's highest in the
islands in 1920, when it was 427 per cent, and
has decreased until it is now 325 per cent
as compared TO S4.4 per cent 1Or the CaucaS1arS.
Japanese immigration has been shut off.
The war record of Hawaii, the House COM
mttee found was in every respect commend
able" In all $4,000 citizens of Hawaii served
in the armed forces, and a large number OF
them were of japanese blood. They served
with great courage and efficiency In the Euro
pean area and were recipients of many deco
rations. According to the FBT, there was not
an act of sabotage or fifth column activity In
the islands before Pearl Harbor, during the
japanese attack or after 1t.
In recent years the organization OF labor
has advanced rapidly in the islands. The CIO
has been particularly effective The Legisla-
ture has passed a number OF labor laws-for
the benefit of labor. Wages paid are now on
a par with those paid on the mainland. Be-
cause Of these activities. certain conservatives
and conservative interests In the islands look
askance on the statehood proposal, with more
power for the people. o..
The heterogeneous peoples of the territory
live and work together harmoniously The
mixed racial complexion of the islands existed
when they were annexed to the United States
The Interior Department has strongly recon-
mended statehood. and the Navy and War De-
partments have offered no opposition. The
War Department has stressed the need OF
making ample provision for the use OF prop
erty for military purposes In the islands.
Questions and Answers
reader can obtain the answer to any aasstian