Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-06
The Political Mill
Statehood for Hawaii
Still Pending in Senate
Democrats Fear Islands
Will Elect Republicans
By Gould. Lincoln


One Of the most important pieces of
will come before the Senate this year
is the Hawaiian statehood bill. The
measure has passed the House. 274 to
1873. The vote in that body was taken
just year ago. Debate in the Senate
is already under way. Its opponents
rely primarily on a motion submitted
by Senator Anderson of New Mexico,
Democrat, to tie the Alaska statehood
bill to the pending measure.
If that motion should be adopted,
Hawaiian statehood may die for this
Congress. Republican leaders in the
House have voiced their opposition to
Alaskan statehood at this time. Presi-
dent Eisenhower has recommended i'm
mediate action for Hawaiian statehood.
and indicated he will support Alaskan
statehood later, when conditions for
statehood in that territory have i'm
proved. Whether the President is will
ing, should the two statehood proposals
measure is still to be decided.
Democrats Oppose Hawaii.
Hawaiian statehood standing alone.
is opposed in the Senate by Democratic
Senators who believe that, if granted
now, Hawaii would elect Republican
Senators and Representatives, adding
to Republican strength N Congress.
These same Democrats believe, too,
that if Alaska should be admitted as
State, it would send Democrats to
Congress, offsetting any gains the Re-
publlcans might make from Hawaii.
There is another group of Senators who
are opposed to the admission of Hawaii
as a State-period. There are other
Democratic Senators who fear that the
admission of Hawaii to statehood would
increase, particularly in the Senate.
the support Of Federal civil rights leg
islation. including an FEPC. And fin
ally, one of the arguments raised
against the admission of Hawaii is that
the islands are mmunist-dominated
Obviously, should all the Democrats
stand together for adding the Alaskan
bill to the Hawaiian bill, the Anderson
motion would in all probability prevail.
There are 48 Democrats and only Al
Republicans in the Senate, and one
independent, Senator Morse of Oregon.
Senator Morse is in favor of adding
Alaska statehood to that for Hawaii
II the MISUNDERSTANDING those
in the House-should decide that it is
politically to the partys advantage to
take Alaska along with Hawaii in this
legislation. they could do so. Hawaii
already has adopted a State constitu-
ton which is acceptable. and should it
become State in the near future it
could elect members of Congress next
November Alaska. on the other hand,
has taken no such step and would be
unable. it is believed, to qualify as a
State in time for the congressional
elections next fall.
Alaska Bill Voted Out.
The Senate Committee on Interior
and 1nsular Affairs has reported the
Alaska statehood bill to the Senate.
senator knowland of California, Re-
publican leader of the Senate, has
promised to call up the Alaskan bill
almost Immediately after the Hawaiian
Dill has been disposed of--in an effort
TO placate the Democrats and persuade
them to let the Hawaiian bill 90
through. So far his plea has proved
unavailing.
Inc people of Hawaii, who have been
knocking at the door for statehood for
years. are unfortunately caught in this
poHtlcal Jam. The territory is qualified
Tor statehood. by population, econom-
lcally and by its historical devotion tn
the United States. Its population num-
oerS Just under half a million ONLY
one territory, Oklahoma, had as large
population when it was admitted to
statehood The Hawaiian population
is greater than that of four States. in
olEldually, Delaware. Nevada, Vermont
ana wyoming. The territory paid
Sl36 million in Federal taxes in 1853
more than any one of nine States, In
the 1852 elections. 87.6 per cent of the
registered voters participated. In con-
tnental United States, the percentage
was only 62.5. The islands have sup
Piled soldiers who distinguished them
selves for gallantry in World War II
and the Korean war.
The charge that the islands and
their economy is dominated by Com
munlsts is fatty denied by Senators
VINO have visited the islands The
Hawalians have placed in their con-
stltutlon, which was overwhelmingly
approved by vote of the people, the
most stringent possible anti-Commu-
MIST oath. When the Federal Govern
ment IN Washington declined to take
steps to end a devastating Communist
led strike in Hawaii in l949, the terri
TORY Legislature enacted laws which
mace 1t possible to end the strike.
Fufther, Hawaiian jury convicted
seven leading Communists last year.