Evening star., 1952-02-03
Senate Fight Looms
On Statehood Bills fol
Alaska and Hawaii
By ]. A. O'LeoU

BY J. A. O'LeoFy
The Senate begins tomorrow
the perennial battle over State
hood for Alaska and Hawaii with
the outcome in doubt.
Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat
OF Wyoming, Chairman Of the In
terror and Insular Affairs Com
mittee, is prepared to make q
strong fight for both bills, but he
Is confronted at the start by a
move to recommit the Alaskan
bill, which will be taken up first.
Informed sources in both major
parties said yesterday a motion to
sent the Alaskan bill back to COM
mittee for further study will carry,
If made. Most observers believe
II that happens the second bill for
Hawaii may not be considered. It
would have to compete with de-
mandS for consideration of the
tidelands issue. or some other
major bill.
Hawaii Strength Greater.
Indications are that the Hawai-
ian bill has more strength in the
Senate than the Alaskan measure.
Friends of both measures yesterday
were considering the advisability
of trying to get Hawaii up first
In the hope it would help to pass
both bills.
The bills are buffed by just
about all the crosS-currentS of
politics, racial problems and
economics that the Senate can
generate. Statehood would mean
that Hawaii and Alaska would
each send two members to the
Senate and one or more to the
House Of Representatives. Hawaii
since the first election of the late
President Roosevelt has been Re-
publican: Alaska is generally
Democratic. But both could be ex-
pected to provide votes against the
Southern stand on civil rights.
sees % supporters.
Joseph r. Harrington, Delegate
from Hawaii, estimated that the
Hawaiian bill has the support of
at least SIS Senators, and possibly
IS. He conceded, however, that
the outlook for Hawaiian State
hood will be influenced by the
strategy the Senate follows on
Alaska.
E. L. Bartlett, the Delegate from
Alaska, Endorsed the suggestion
that Hawaii be taken up first.
Senator O'Mahoney said he has
heard the reports that opponents
OF Statehood on both sides of thed
political aisle ARE claiming the
votes to kill Statehood. and when
they talk about killing it they
mean both bills" 4
Il believe Statehood for these
two territories is so important It'll
should be above all partiSanship, ~
Senator O'Mahoney continued.
I'm told that many Senators who
know about the recommittal move
are earnestly proclaiming support |
for Hawaii. but expressing doubt
about Alaska. I heard yesterday a
Republican Senator is saying the
Democrats put Alaska first because
they know it is the weakest.
President Agreeable.
"An easy answer to that is to
put Hawaii first. I've talked with
the President about this, and he
is quite agreeable. He thinks it
should be done"
Senator O'Mahoney was not
to say he would make
motion to reverse the order Of
taking up the bills, because he
has not conferred with the leaders.
The Wyoming Senator believes
Statehood to the two ter
would strengthen national
defense and the prestige Of the (
United States in the current world
struggle for freedom.
Pointing out that only so miles
of water separate Alaska from
Siberia, Senator O'Mahoney said
that on the Siberian side there
are concentrations Of Red
Gives People Confidence.
Therefore" he continued, Il
believe we should give the people
of Alaska the confidence that will