Show hawaiian plebiscite to focus attention on forty year struggle for statehood by ROBERT mcshane released by western newspaper union HOUGH the 48 starre d THOUGH flag of the united states has remained unchanged since arizona and new mexico were admitted to the union in 1912 a determined attempt is being made to add another star to its constellation hawaii as at least part of its population claims wants to become the forty ninth state culminating more than forty years of effort to secure full rights as an integral part of the nation the ahe territory of hawaii will hold a plebiscite next november to record by popular vote the aspiration of her people for s statehood tate hood the plebiscite will be included in f the general elections in the territory november 5 it will have no direct bearing on the granting of state hood other than to focus national attention on the issue its sponsors hope to expedite action by congress on a bill providing for statehood now pending before the house committee on territories to many people islands the issue is crucial statehood to them represents the fulfillment of a hope that was born nearly a hundred years ago and has been ardently cherished since hawaii was annexed in 1898 activated by a group of american colonists in the islands a move for the annexation of the then kingdom of hawaii was almost con surna surnamed ted in 1854 the death of king kamehameha III put an end to treaty negotiations that were almost completed sentiment kept alive nearly a half century passed before the matter again arose with sufficient decisiveness to bring it to an issue but sentiment for annexation was kept alive by the growing number of americans settling in the islands and by the constantly greater integration of american institutions into the body politic when annexation finally came hawaii would have much preferred that it be as a state those who worked tor for annexation however were of the opinion that the united states would follow its established policy and advance her to statehood when she had demonstrated her fitness present day advocates of hawaiian statehood insist that it was upon this understanding that she surrendered her sovereignty and became a united states territory now hawaii feels she has been kept waiting overlong it is just 40 4 V 0 I 1 I 1 I 1 1 5 1 77 7 W P z r hopeful citizens of hawaii have added a lorty forty ninth star to thi the united stats states flag in anticipation of the day wien when that country will wil be admitted to statehood however the extra star is just an expert ment and the flag boyet be used until the issue has been decided japanese residents within the territory the civil and political structure closely parallels that of a state the governor secretary of state and the higher judiciary are appointed by the president of the united states the legislature and major local officers are elective the territory is divided into counties which have the same home rule as those of a state As a territory however the parallel ends there her people cannot vote in national elections tor for the president and vice president and they have no senators or representatives senta tives in congress but are represented at washington only by a single delegate who has no vote this to the people of hawaii is contrary to american tradition to them it means taxation tor for representation sen tation they point out that up to the middle ot of 1937 a total of had been contributed by hawaii in federal internal revenue the people of hawaii pay the same federal taxes as the people of the states tax figures show that hawaii has consistently paid more into the federal treasury than have 14 to 19 of the states carries state responsibilities she is subject to the same laws she would be included in compulsory military service in case of another draft as she was during the first world war in short she carries the same responsibilities in every respect as those of a state As a state hawaii would be entitled to two senators and one V 0 ia il Z af although hawaii is better known to the layman as an ideal vacation spot it is known to military experts as one of the most closely guarded island groups in the world this tone lone guard standing beneath tropical palms is symbolic of the V U S army heavily fortified hawaiian area years this year that formalities were completed which established her as a territory racial problem overdrawn hawaii claims that the one fre quent argument used against state hood hoodjer her racial problem is one that has been greatly misunderstood according to census figures she has a lower percentage of alien population than the city of new york and it is declining yearly many who have visited the islands declare that nowhere have citizens two or three generations removed from immigrant ancestry developed a more united loyalty or a stronger feeling of americanism based upon 1935 calculations and population has increased considerably since that time the distribution of population by race was estimated to be as follows hawaiian caucasian hawaiian asia asiatic tic hawaiian chinese korean portuguese spanish 1267 puerto rican other caucasian and representative in congress with a second representative upon the addition of less than people to her present population hawaii claims a 1910 1940 population of I 1 I 1 which either exceeds or compares with the population of nine states gross assessed valuation Is more than surpassing that of nine of the states this figure records show exceeds the gross valuation in any state at the time of its advancement from the sta status of a territory sugar production is the biggest industry of the islands accounting for 80 per cent of the mhd worlds supply and travelers annually spend upwards ot of on her shores with completely modern modem public utilities large financial and commercial institutions splendid highway system inter island transportation por tation by water and air her pr progress I 1 puts her on a par with other sections of the united states plebiscite Is nonpartisan non partisan now as a dramatic way of registering her claim for statehood hawaii has chosen the plebiscite to be held next november the matter Is nonpartisan non partisan both the re publican and democratic parties in the islands are sponsoring the plebiscite and urging the people to vote so general and wholehearted is the support being given to it in the islands island 1 Is freely predicted the affirmative votes will be virtually unanimous other fears for chances of eventual statehood center around the islands military importance hawaii is americas first line of defense in the pacific ocean the bulwark which stands between the states of oregon and washington with their totally inadequate bacill facilities for warding off an enemy and invasion by the fleet and air armada of a foreign belligerent army navy oppose hawaii Is a gibraltar like elem element lant in the nations national defense scheme and because of that a barrier to its statehood arises both the army and navy departments of the united states have expressed strong opposition to any change in the islands form of government uncle sam has spent millions for the fortification of the islands and indirectly to protect the mainland of the united states california with extensive fortifications is considerably better equipped to fight off an enemy invasion than either of the two states to the north pearl harbor united states naval base situated in the island of oahu bahu eight or ten miles from honolulu is the center of the elaborate network of defense it Is the snug and secure anchorage where the whole fighting fleet of the nation can lie at anchor on its shores are a navy yard a submarine base a powerful radio station fuel tanks tank s dry docks barracks and other military necessities because of this army and navy executives are hesitant to approve ot of any measure which would change the islands form of government they tear fear that a change might by the greater independence ot of statehood interfere with future development of the united states mid pacific stronghold |