HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE TERRITORIES SEVENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 3034 A BILL TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII TO FORM 58300 OCTOBER 7 TO OCTOBER 18, 1935) Printed for the use of the Committee on the Territories UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1936 SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES EUGENE B. CROWE, Indiana, Chairman RAYMOND J. CANNON, Wisconsin J. J. DEMPSEY, New Mexico ERNEST LUNDEEN, Minnesota II JACK NICHOLS, Oklahoma SAMUEL WILDER KING, Hawai FOREWORD The following pages, it is believed, convey a true account of the opinions and attitudes as expressed in a series of public hearings on statehood by a large number of citizens and residents of Hawaii who appeared before the congressional committee during its recent visit to this Territory. In the main, it is a verbatim report of statements, questions, and answers. However, since the congressional subcommittee desired that the various witnesses should have the opportunity to amend their statements as recorded by the reporters, the first draft of the transcript was submitted to the witnesses for such corrections and changes as they wished to make. Insofar as such changes were requested and made the record is not a verbatim report. Since the purpose of the congressional visit was not to cross-examine witnesses, but to ascertain the opinions and attitudes of typical citizens, it is logical that the committee should not insist upon a verbatim transcription. IV DAVID L. CRAWFORD, Editor. PART I STATEHOOD FOR HAWAII MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1935 SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CAPITOL BUILDING, SENATE CHAMBERS, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. The meeting was called to order at 10 a. m. by the chairman of the Subcommittee of the Committee on Territories. There were present the following members of the congressional committee: Hon. Eugene B. Crowe, Congressman from Indiana, chairman; Hon. Raymond J. Cannon, Congressman from Wisconsin; Hon. J. J. Dempsey, Congressman from New Mexico; Hon. Ernest Lundeen, Congressman from Minnesota; Hon. Jack Nichols, Congressman from Oklahoma; Hon. Samuel Wilder King, Delegate to Congress from Hawaii. OPENING REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN CROWE The CHAIRMAN. Friends, people of Hawaii assembled, and the committee, I want to make a short opening statement concerning the hearings, as to how they will be conducted. Each member of this committee will preside at a session. We expect to alternate, each one to preside at a hearing throughout the islands. These hearings will be open to everyone. I will explain how they will be conducted. Any local committee or group may designate certain ones to be heard, and they will be recognized by our committee, as is right. That will not preclude anyone else who wants to make a statement-anyone, regardless of whether he or she has consulted your citizens' committee, or not; it is our desire that no one be precluded from being heard. This committee comes to your beautiful islands with open minds, without prejudice, and without forming in advance any opinion either for or against the question. We could not be so unfair to your people, who are a part of our Nation, as to come down here with prejudices or with anything but an open mind. Accordingly, if you hear any rumors that this committee or any of its members are prejudiced either for or against statehood, I want it distinctly understood (and I believe I speak the views of the committee, because those matters were gone into before) that we will not do anything except to receive facts, any and all facts, that you people desire to give us. At the hearing today Congressman Dempsey, of New Mexico, will preside. In advance of that, however, I have been asked to call 1 |