Eastland Ducks Statehood Questions; Called "Bum," "Phony," by Bridges

Center for Labor Education & Research, University of Hawaii - West Oahu: Honolulu Record Digitization Project

Honolulu Record, Volume 9 No. 18, Thursday, November 29, 1956 p. 6

Eastland Ducks Statehood Questions; Called "Bum," "Phony," by Bridges

Sen. James O Eastland, (D Miss) chairman of the Senate committee on internal security, slipped into Honolulu after a false start or two, in the wee hours or Tuesday morning and made himself available to the press later in the day.

Looking, as one reporter put it, like a "heavier Harry Truman," the politician who has made almost a career of expounding and fortifying the southern theory of white supremacy refused to talk about anything like that to Honolulu reporters. Denying what V the ILWU, the RECORD and the New York Times have stated — that his principal target is Hawaiian statehood — the internationally notorious bigot claimed the "Communist conspiracy in the islands" is what he and his committee have come to investigate.

Refusing to comment on his own views of statehood, Eastland insisted he would not be "diverted" Into side issues. When a reporter asked about his statement made once that Hawaii as a state would send two senators to Washington "controlled by Moscow," tine senator again said he would not be diverted.

Reaction to Eastland and his committee was varied throughout the community As e[x]pected, Imua, which claims as one of its objectives the promotion of racial harmony conveniently forgot that alleged objective, and gave Eastland as much of a boost as possible So did some radio spokesmen.

One disc jockey, however referred to him as "Senator James Bigot — pardon, Eastland," and dedicated several records by Negro artists to the senator who has charged the US Supreme Court with being "Communist-dominated" because of its decision against segregation in the schools. When ILWU President Harry Bridges arrived next day to announce he considered Eastland a "bum" and a "phony" because of his racism alone, at least one newspaper gave equal space to Bridges, side-by-side with Eastland, much better treatment than Bridges or other ILWU officials usually get.

Bridges answered questions saying he stands by his original recommendation, made a couple of weeks ago, that the union prepare a "greeting" for Eastland and "we're not gonna be working when we do it."

The ILWU president also made it clear he considers the union a primary target of Eastland, along with Hawaiian statehood. "We are proud of our achievements," Bridges said, adding that East-land will not be allowed to interfere with the union s program.

Gov. King First

Although reservations for the committee members had been made at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Sen. Eastland was remaining within Federal confines Wednesday, a house guest of an admiral at Pearl Harbor.

p /> I do not say that at odd hours a patient must be given the regular hot dinner or supper. Few people would expect this.

But what is so complicated about opening and heating a can of soup, making some toast, or preparing instant coffee or tea? Why cannot a night nurse do these simple things after the kitchen to closed? Is it just too much trouble?

It is only common humanity to feed the hungry. If our hospitals are too big, too complex, too impersonal to do these small kindnesses for the sick, something is very wrong.