Letter from Mrs. M. G. Fernandez to Senator Scott Lucas

File ea 78/10/50 1432 Liholiho Street X Honolulu, T. H. August 7, 1950 Honorable Scott W. Lucas The Senate Washington, D. C. 400 Dear Senator Lucas: As a life-long resident of Hawaii, I am appealing to you to do every- thing in your power to bring the Hawaii statehood bill to a vote in Members of Congress who are in reality opposing # statehood for Hawai i this session of Congress. on the grounds of "racial discrimination behind a smokescreen of charges of Communism, should lay aside their bigoted notions of the superiority of the white race and give Hawaii the opportunity to prove to the whole world that the people of this Territory have the welfare of their country at heart first, last and always. I speak as one of the many who has no doubt that Hawaii as a state will continue to uphold every tradition which has made our country what it is today. Senator Butler and the Senators from the southern states who seem to be opposing Hawaiian statehood on the grounds of Communism are, by their very actions, feeding the flames of Communism -- and I say this because it is the general feeling of the people of Hawaii this is opposition is pure and unadulterated "racial discrimination". Discrimination in any form leads to Communism. We of Hawaii are proud of our racial toler- ance -- and we would not for one moment tolerate the notorious Ku Klux Klan and the disgraceful lynchings and chain gangs for which the Southern States are famous. I need not go into the record of our valiant AJA's and the rest of our boys who laid down their lives for their country -- the United States of America. Their record is world-renown. Each of us -- be he white, black, yellow or red -- has "but one life to give to his country", and hundreds of our boys of every race and color in Hawaii gave that one life to insure for the living our "American way of life". I am certain that their interpretation of that "American way of life" was not racial discrimination and prejudice. Those of our bo who were fortunate enough to emerge from World War II unscathed are again in battle -- and I hope to God that you in the Senate will fulfill your duty -- if not to the living -- then to the dead. With the passing of the bill granting Guam self-government, our good friend, Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, stated that "the bill is positive notice once more that the policy of the United States is to provide self- government for peoples everywhere." If anyone is entitled to "self- government", surely Hawaii rates among the first. When nations have learned from the peoples of Hawaii how to live in harmony and racial tolerance -- only then will world peace be attai ed. Respectfully yours, CC Honorable Harry S. Truman Honorable Jos. C. O'Mahoney (Mrs.) M. G. Fernandez Honorable J. R. Farrington x Honorable Hugh Butler Honorable Jas. O. Eastland