Hawaii
Newspaper Stories

August 29, 1860
Illinois State Democrat

Three hundred thousand acres of land on Hawaii, Sandwich Islands, being one twelfth of the whole area of the kingdom, was sold recently for $3,100. It contains a half a dozen good sized volcanoes, four or five sheep farms, and an immense quantity of pulu in the rough. The purchaser was C. C. Harris, who has been dub- bed, since the auction sale, the Duke of Kahuku, which is the name of the land in question. [submitted by Candi Horton]

December 21 1958
Dallas Morning News

Hawaii Stands Good Chance Of Entering Union in 1959
By Walter C. Hornaday Chief of The News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - The territory of Hawaii will be knocking on the door of Congress next year for admission to the Union.
Hawaiians are not at all miffed because Alaska got in ahead of them. They believe, as do many members of Congress, that taking Alaska into the sisterhood of states practically
assures favor able action on their own application.
The islands far out in mid-Pacific have a better article to sell in some ways than had Alaska.
One of the points made against Alaska was that its population was too small, too thinly spread and its resources too poorly developed to make the area economically self
sustaining.
This charge cannot be sustained against Hawaii. It has a population of 540,000 more than double Alaska's and a much more highly developed economy.
The economic situation caused Rep. W. R. Poage of Waco to oppose admission of Alaska, but to favor allowing Hawaii state-hood status. Other congressmen held the same views
ARGUMENTS against Hawaii are its long distance across the high seas from the mainland of the United States, the predominantly non white population and the infiltration into
transport unions of Communists.
The population ot Hawaii is 84 per cent native born and constitutes many races and national originals, especially Chinese and Japanese. Southern members have particularly
objected to taking in such a mixed population.
Rep. Walter Rogers of Pampa, who led the House fight against Alaska last year, has announced he's against Hawaii too, Rogers is a member of the committee that will pass on the
statehood bill.
Rogers pointed out that the United States doesn't have jurisdiction over the high seas between this country's mainland and Hawaii. The islands constituting the territory are far apart
and some that might be considered a part of Hawaii are thousands of miles from the main islands.
He also considered the hold that Harry Bridges has had on the island through his control of unions to be a deterrent to statehood. Rogers said this situation can be corrected and that he has received reports that it has been.
In spite of the expected opposition from thre South, the chances are bright for Hawaii finally being admitted next year. An Hawaii statehood bill has passed the House three times
in the last ten years. One also passed the Senate but went down in defeat because it was tied to Alaska.
President Eisenhower has been recommending statehood for Hawaii ever since he moved into the White House. He is expected to repeat his support again in 1959.
Most Republicans have been supporting Hawaii because it has had a Republican voting record until recent years. The territory has gone Democratic the last three elections.
If the political situation causes Hawaii to lose Republican backing, it would irore than make it up by added Democratic support.
The Democratic congressional favor on allowing the House and Senate to vote on statehood for Hawaii.
Senate Democratic Leader Lyndon B. Johnson said recently that Hawaii had the best chance for admission in 1959 it ever had. If the bill clears the Senate committee, Johnson was
expected to schedule it for early debate.
Speaker Sam Rayburn has stated that he believed Congress will look more favorably on statehood than it has in the past.
HAWAII, like Alaska, has had a voice but no vote in the House. Hawaii was represented for many years by the late Joseph R. Farrington, and by his widow after his death. The
Farringtons worked ceaselessly for statehood. The Hawaiian delegate is now John A. Burns.
The Paradise of the Pacific has been visited many times by congressional delegations inspecting the islands with the view of learning if they were ready for statehood.
Th: last trip was made by a House subcommittee headed by Leo O'Brien (D-N.Y.) O'Brien has predicted a bill will go to the House floor before Easter. [Submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer]

1959: Statehood approved for Hawaii
Final congressional approval to admit Hawaii as the 50th state in the U.S. was given today by the House of Representatives with a vote of 323-89. Approval in the House came less than 24 hours after the Senate voted 76-15 in favor of the statehood bill.
"As the House roll call reached the 218 affirmative votes needed for passage, Gov. William F. Quinn, who was waiting here, telephoned a signal for bonfire celebrations to be touched off in Hawaii," an article in the San Mateo Times explained on March 12, 1959. "It was a moment the 575,000 residents of the last incorporated territory under the American flag had awaited for more than 50 years."
On August 21, 1959, President Eisenhower officially proclaimed Hawaii a state and presented a new 50-star flag for the nation. It was the second time in the same year that Eisenhower had proclaimed a new state, as Alaska became part of the Union on January 3, 1959.
[Submitted by Frances Cooley]
 

Back to Hawaii Home Page