Atlanta Daily World

Southern Legislators
Hit Racial Strains
Of Island Territory

WASHINGTON - The House voted 274 to 138 Tuesday to admit Hawaii to the union as the 49th state after southern representatives, sparked by Georgians, had attacked the island's population as almost "completely overshadowed by Oriental strains."

The measure now goes to the Senate, where Republicans leaders confidently predict early approval also. Southerners, however, are counting on enough votes in the upper chamber to pigeon-hole the measure in a committee.

In approving the bill, the House limited Hawaiian representation in the lower chamber to one member instead of the two provided in the measure. The House also decided that Congress rather than the President must approve the Hawaiian constitution before final statehood is conferred.

Southern Democrats emphasized that whites are in a minority in the islands and indicated their fears that Hawaiian representatives would support civil rights legislation, to which they are opposed.

Rep. Paul Brown, of Georgia, said that there "are powerful left-wing elements" on the islands and suggested that Hawaii should be given commonwealth status. Also attacking the measure, largely on racial grounds, were Rep. James C. Davis and Rep. E. L. Forrester.

The Hawaiian statehood bill was the first of 11 major pieces of legislation whose enactment President Eisenhower requested. The President made no mention of Alaskan statehood when he urged Congress to act favorably on Hawaii. However, the admission of the Pacific Island territory enhances the possibility of favorable action also on Alaska, although it may not come this year.

House Democrats accused the Republicans of partisan motives in recommending statehood for Hawaii but not for Alaska. It was pointed out that Hawaii is considered Republican territory, while America's northwest outpost normally votes Democratic.

House opposition to Hawaiian
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House
Approves
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statehood was not based entirely
on the administration's failure to
include Alaska. Southern Democrats
emphasized that whites are in a
minority in the islands and indi-
cated their fears that Hawaiian re-
representatives would support
civil
rights legislation, to which they are
opposed.

Hawaii has already adopted
a
state constitution and the bill pro-
vides that it shall elect in 1954 a
state legislature and governor. and
U. S. Representatives and Senators.
The territory would officially be-
come the 49th state when
the
Hawaiian representatives take their
seats in Congress.

A 49th star would be added to
the American flag the following
July 4.

During the debate. House Demo-
cratic Whip McCormack. Mass.. told
his colleagues that "throughout the
years there has been a clear
un-
derstanding that both Alaska and
Hawaii would come up together."

However. Rep. Javits (R. - Lib.)
N. Y., urged the House to vote on
Hawaiian statehood solely on
its
merits. He said opposition has cre-
ated "strange alignments of voting
by groups of diverse views,"
and
warned "it would be a great mis-
take if we turned this down today."