Evening star., 1948-05-16

IN view OF LklSlE uIlQcIlyuiS lIN~
portance in fixing our national mind
upon the unforgettable objective OF
statehood, I believe that some Of the
basic findings Of the recent congress
sional inquiries, as they concern the
political and economic justiflca-
tions for statehood, can profltably
be summarized here. 80,
The political-social background.
The inquiries show that the Ha-
waiian people not only have evi-
denced great enthusiasm for COM
plete self-government, but also have
demonstrated more than SUFFICIENT
competence in handling their own
affairs within the limited means
given them. The record shows that
about 40 per cent Of the eligible vot-
ing population registers and goes to
the polls in local elections, as against
United States average of a per cent
"a comparison highly favorable to
the Hawaiian people, considering
that they cannot vote for President
or Governor, and that all of their
judges and magistrates, as well as
numerous other officials at the local
level, are not elected but appointed.
Racial Argument
Because of the diverse origins Of
the present population of Hawaii.
one of the shop-worn arguments
against statehood has been the fear
that racial groups in the islands
would vote strictly along racial lines.
BY racial groups, those advancing
this argument usually mean only
the citizens of Japanese birth or
descent, and an accompanying fear
has been that the Japanese would
constantly strive to create racial
discord and thereby prepare fertile
field for subversive activities.
Established electoral practices in
the islands have shown that bloc
voting by racial groups has pre-
sented no problem whatsoever.
There is no justif1able reason to
fear that it would present any
future obstacle to the achievement
of a government free from inordinate
racial pressures. Moreover, 1t Is
now conceded by military intelli-
gepca agencies of our Government,
that not one single act Of espionage
or sabotage was committed by any
resident of the islands of Japanese
birth or descent, either before or
after Pearl Harbor.
Another often-expressed argument
has to do with the fear that COM
munism was making sufficient gains
in the islands as to affect their
economic and political well-being.
Indeed, I am Informed that this
was a prevalent fear among the
opponents Of statehood in the Com
mittee on Interior and Insular
Affairs. But here again, Senator
Cordon's report serves to reassure
any doubtful and laggard soul. It
shows quite clearly that the allega-
tions of Communist activities and
the threats of communism, are no
different in Hawaii than they are
in the United States.
Fiscal Record Good
The economic background. The
fiscal policies OF the islands and the
general economic condition, now and
for years past, completely demon
strate a fitness for statehood. There
is need to quote only few typical
statistics: Hawaii pays more IN
Federal taxes than IA States of the
Union and the percentage OF indi-
viduals filing income tax returns
exceeds that in rs States. The
assessed value of real estate in the
islands is greater than that of any
State at the time of admission into
the Union, with the exception OF
Oklahoma. Commerce between
Hawaii and Continental United
States, from 1885 to 1910, was ex-
ceeded only by the trade between
the United States and the largest
of foreign nations. Obviously, eco
nomically as we'll as politically,
Hawaii has earned its long overdue
dividend of statehood.
Fourteen times since 190O-when
the Congress passed the Hawaiian
Organic Act creating a territorial
government in the traditional
American pattern, directly implying
eventual statehood after meeting the
fair requirements Of tutelage IN
sc. .f-goyernment-the Hawaiian Leg
islature, elected by the people OF
the Islands, has requested Con-
gress to redeem its pledge and admit
Hawaii into the Union. The his
torical way of evolution from Terri
tory to statehood has been followed
faithfully since the inception OF this
Government. AS we built the Nation
and the 13 Colonies westward TO the
Pacific, we kept faith with those
who pushed back the frontiers, set
tied the land and built the cities,
established and made permanent
the institutions of free government.
Let US keep faith now with those
who have established and made
permanent our free way Of life far
out In the Pacific.
As the whole record shows, Hawaii
statehood has not been a partisan
issue. and as the member Of Demo-
cratic Presidents cabinet, specifi-
cally charged with the Federal
Governments relations with Hawaii.
Il readily and wholeheartedly of1er
as my own argument these last two
paragraphs from Senator Cordons
excellent report to the Senate:
Hawaii has met the require
ments for statehood. It is the
chairman's opinion that the Ter
1see KRUG, Page c-5o