The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-02-24
The World Today
By JAMES MARROW

A
the statehood they want than ever
before. But for Alaskans, who want
statehood too, the outlook is bleak.
| Both houses of Congress must
approve before either of the ter
ritories gets statehood. The House
gave its blessing to Hawaii twice,
1s47 and 1850, and to Alaska once,
1850. The Senate has always ig-
nored or showed the question
aside.
Nevertheless, Hawaiia and
Alaska statehood has been under
examination by congressional COM
mitteeS for more than Is years.
In that time there have been more
than a dozen hearings. The result
so far: blank.
And for even longer the Demo
cratic and Republican parties in
their campaign platform promises
have been, until recently, mum
bling timidly about statehood for
the TWO terrltOrleS.
| Mostly they tried to duck with
such rubbery phrases as 1--WE ia
vor eventual statehood" for them.
The Republicans were still pussy
footing in 1913 when the Demo
Gratis urged immediate" state
hood for both.
But nothing happened then, as
usual, in spite of President Tru-
mans additional urging to his
Democratic controlled Congress
Statehood couldn't get past the
House.
Once again in 1852 the Demo
cratic platform put the "immedi-
ate label on Hawaii and Alaska
statehood. And in 1852 Repub-
licans made no bones about want.
ing immediate" statehood for
Hawaii.
They were less enthusiast
about Alaska, contenting them
selves, but probably not the Alas
kans. with this phrase: 1--WE favor
statehood for Alaska under an
equitable enabling act"
! (Hawaii has been additionally
Republican but oddly in 1852 the
Democrats made gains there while
Alaska, Democratic for years, in
1852 elected Republican Legis-
lature.)
President Eisenhower tried TO
live up to the Republican platform
at once, for in his State of the
Union message he said he wanted
Hawaii to become a state fast. He
didn't mention Alaska. Shortly
afterwards, he put Hawaiian state
hood on his list OF II must"
items for Congress.
What makes it look better than
ever for Hawaii is what's been
said inside Congress, particularly
in the Senate, which has been the
main stumbling block.
Sen. Butler of Nebraska, who
had been ranking Republican
member of the Senate Interior and
Insular Affairs Committee when
the Democrats had majority on
it, used to be against Hawaiian
statehood.
But now the Republicans run the
committee. he's chairman. and
shortly after the Republican cleo.
ton victory last fan he predicted
Hawaiian statehood would be ap-
proved by the new Republican. con-
trolled Congress. But he said he
didn't believe Alaska would make
the grade.
And Sen. Smathers, Florida
Democrat and member of the
same committee. recently gave as
his guess that there wouldn't be
prolonged" dieussion about
Hawaii.
i Coming from him. the state.
ment had some significance. He
led the Southern attack on state
hood for both territories in 1852. As
states. Hawaii and Alaska might
pose for Southern Democrats q
problem they don't face now.
| Being only territories. Hawaii
and Alaska are represented in Con.
gress--in the House--by one dele,
gate each. elected by the voters
in both places. But these delegates
have no vote.
H As states, Hawaii and Alaska
would be entitled TO two senator,
and one or more House members
In their fight against civil rights
legislation, the Sontherners would
have 10 worry about the weight
the senator's from Hawaii and
Alaska might throw around.
II But the argument given in the
Capitol against statehood for Alas.
ka boils down to this, rightly OF
wrongly: IT'S rot economically 81
for statehood yss. The same arTa,
nsnt cant be raised against Ha.
val. which psySr more taxes than
each Of II states.
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