STATEMENT OF THE REVEREND CHARLES M. HAWES, HEADMASTER, ST. GUNSTAN'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL With regard to the question of whether or not the people of the American Virgin Islands should be permitted to elect their own Governor, much has been said recently concerning the general subject of "political maturity". In an editorial published in The Daily News of the Virgin Islands on Thursday of this past week and entitled "What is Maturity?", the following statement was made: "The Congress of the United States will give the Virgin Islands the autonomy of a popularly elected governor if, in the opinion of the nation's lawmakers, the islands' people are found to be politically mature. According to the dictionary definition, political maturity means "fully developed", "full grown", "of age". Allow me to submit to you my contention that the aforestated definition of "political maturity" is woefully inadequate and dangerously misleading if its calculated effect is to provide criteria whereby final judgment may be made on the issue at hand. As an educator of children, I would certainly agree that maturity has to do with developing, growing, aging. But it has to do with these things in an active, dynamic way; not in a passive, static way. We are concerned with people here, not cheeses to which the passage of so many years brings acceptable ripeness. Peoples' bodies do attain an end point in their development, but, barring sickness, their minds are free to grow until the hour of their death. Where, then, is their majority to be calculated in such a state of affairs? The law would appear to be somewhat abritrary on the matter of age as it applies to the individual voter. In some states, he may vote after his eighteenth birthday. In others-in fact, in most, he must wait until after his twenty-first birthday. And while I believe that these standards, necessary as they are, apply chiefly to his development of body and not to the reaching of a utopian end-point of his mind, nevertheless the issue is further complicated for me when the working press, which actively seeks to influence his voting, freely admits to writing for the average reading level of a ten-to-twelve year old! Would it not be better for us here to define "political maturity" as that stage in the active development of a person or persons wherein he or they are not necessarily "fully developed", "full grown", "of age", but rather ready and desirous to live with the responsibilities and consequences of being so? It seems to me that such a definition is far more consistent with our national qualifications for voting than is the one currently offered us by The Daily News of the Virgin Islands. One final point of irony: While I believe the American citizens of these islands are indebted to The Daily News of the Virgin Islands for stirring the pot of their political interest and enthusiasm over the issue of alleged extremes in local governmental patronage, nevertheless I find it extra-ordinary that no reference has yet been made by this daily journal to the obvious beginning of any Virgin Islands' patronage, that which lies inherent in the system that currently provides us with our governors. I do not say this thing to discredit Governor Paiewonsky in the slightest. In fact, it seems to me that he is performing his thoroughly complicated office with a great deal more skill and integrity than are many elected governors of the fifty states of our nation. But who can dispute the fact that to date the American governors of these islands were and are themselves the products of Washington's own spoils system? Since in my opinion it is a ready state of mind that signifies true "political maturity". I beg of you not to deny of us who are ready the opportunity to leave our humiliating, childish crib-so that we may truly develop, grow, and age as all other men do, walking upright through the dangers and hardships of the world and not riding piggy-back. Mr. CAREY. Father Hawes, for my own part I think to attempt to add anything to what you have said in this brief but highly effective statement would be like adding a stanza to Thanatopsis. I feel that you have seen fit to do something which I find different in today's society, and that is that the clergyman comes forth and he involves himself in the political area of discussion. He does not hide in his rectory or go into the sanctuary of personal conviction and leave it. to the layman, so-called, to reach his own decision. I certainly did not attempt to be facetious when I said we needed the prayers of the Lord. You have given these without question but you have given us something more in your statement. You have put the issue squarely-that this product of the spoils system which we now have certainly can be substituted with something better by letting the people reach their own decision. I thank you for your statement. The gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Morton? Mr. MORTON. I think this is certainly the most literary statement we have had. I truly congratulate you for it. Will you tell me something about St. Gunstun's Episcopal School? Reverend HAWES. Yes, sir. This is a diocese and school of roughly 275 youngsters. Mr. MORTON. The children when they complete their education at that school then go on to high school, or junior high school? Reverend HAWES. Hopefully when they complete our school they will go on to college. We have had two graduating classes and they have all gone to college. Mr. MORTON. As you view the educational level in the Virgin Islands compared to the standard set in your own school, how do you find it? Reverend HAWES. Congressman, if I may defer a bit on that question I am not sure that the answer to the question will be indicative to the subcommittee. As an independent school we can be very selective with regard to the youngsters we take into the school, whereas the public system-I am a product of a private school system myself all the way through-but they are forced to educate all youngsters. Mr. MORTON. I think you are to be commended, and certainly the diocese which you represent is to be commended for establishing such a school. I think inevitably these schools, though parochial in nature, will contribute greatly to our total educational system. They set fine standards and they fit very well into our American way of life. Do you have any feelings about the question I asked Mr. Henderson about whether the establishment of a procedure for electing a Governor will provide a new sense of responsibility to the people of the Virgin Islands? Reverend HAWES. I do. I think to talk about political maturity when the head of government down here is not directly answerable to the electorate is ridiculous. How can we be politically mature and still have a Governor? Mr. MORTON. Other than the members of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands what other elected officials are there in the Virgin Islands? Are the mayors of the various towns elected? How about the school board? Reverend HAWES. The school board in my school is elected but I am not competent to give you an answer on public schools. Mr. MORTON. I thank you and appreciate your patience in coming before the committee. Mr. CAREY. Further questions? (No response.) Mr. CAREY. Thank you very much, Father Hawes, for a splendid contribution to our deliberations. The next witness to come before the subcommittee is Cephus Rogers, who appears in behalf of the Frederiksted Jaycees. STATEMENT OF CEPHUS N. ROGERS, PRESIDENT OF THE Mr. ROGERS. My name is Cephus N. Rogers. I am president of the Frederiksted Jaycees and editor of the West End News, the local newspaper in the town of Frederiksted. Mr. Chairman and other distinguished members of the committee, your presence here today, whether by choice or circumstance, tells me that you are interested somewhat in Virgin Islands affairs. Whether your interest was unnaturally aroused or whether being elected representatives of your people you have a genuine concern for a people seeking greater autonomy, you will of course agree that the right to elect one's chief executive should not be debated. It is accepted by freemen everywhere as basic as the right to live in this world of ours. (Mr. Rogers' prepared statement follows:) STATEMENT BY CEPHUS N. ROGERS, PRESIDENT OF THE FREDERIKSTED JAYCEES My name is Cephus N. Rogers. I am president of the Frederiksted Jaycees and editor of the West End News, the local newspaper in the town of Frederiksted. Mr. Chairman and other distinguished members of the committee, your presence here today, whether by choice or circumstance, tells me that you are interested somewhat in Virgin Islands' affairs. Whether your interest was unnaturally aroused or whether being elected representatives of your people you have a genuine concern for a people seeking greater autonomy, you will of course agree that the right to elect one's chief executive should not be debated. It is accepted by free men everywhere as basic as the right to live in this world of ours. Your forefathers secured this right with their blood on Bunker Hill, protected it at Gettysburg, and even today men are dying daily in Vietnam so that free men may continue to exercise the right to self determination. Some freedom is achieved without bloodshed, some achieved through fierce and bloody wars; but in every case, however, this freedom was the result of sacrifice by those who cherished freedom and were willing to sacrifice their lives for it. Yes, Mr. Chairman, four Virgin Islanders have died in the Vietnam war fighting side by side with perhaps soldiers from your home State. The Viet Cong bullet did not ask which one of them had the right to elect to his own Governor, nor who was white or black. The Virgin Islander, much like his neighbors in the other Caribbean Islands, is by nature a proud being with few inhibitions. Whether he is walking the streets of New York. Alabama, Texas, or California, he carries himself upright with his head high, believing in his own ability and fearing no one. To tell him that he is not ready to elect his own Governor is like telling your people that they are not now and were never ready to vote for the President of the United States. With all the side issues which will come into play in this hearing, your job will be to disregard the hedges and get to the root of the issue, the one main hope and desire which is burning in the heart of every true Virgin Islander---the right to elect his own Governor first, then later the right to elect his own Representative to Congress. I beg to warn you that the same mentality which opposes the granting of this basic right to the people of these islands is the selfsame one which imposed the Stamp Act on the Colonies in 1776, triggering the Revolutionary War. We are a peace loving people, as the numberless visitors to our shores will attest, and would seek every means sort of violence to obtain what is rightfully ours. If we are less matured than the people of Kenya or the Belgian Congo, or for that matter the people of Georgia or Alabama then we are no better off today than in 1848 when Governor Von Scholten issued his historic proclamation, fifteen years before President Abraham Lincoln did likewise on the mainland. We are proud of our American heritage, but we also want to exercise the same rights as every other American citizen regardless of creed, color or origin. We shall never fire shots in the Halls of Congress, but we shall continue to peacefully demand our right to self-determination. Thank you for listening. prayers of the Lord. You have given these without question but you have given us something more in your statement. You have put the issue squarely-that this product of the spoils system which we now have certainly can be substituted with something better by letting the people reach their own decision. I thank you for your statement. The gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Morton? Mr. MORTON. I think this is certainly the most literary statement we have had. I truly congratulate you for it. Will you tell me something about St. Gunstun's Episcopal School? Reverend HAWES. Yes, sir. This is a diocese and school of roughly 275 youngsters. Mr. MORTON. The children when they complete their education at that school then go on to high school, or junior high school? Reverend HAWES. Hopefully when they complete our school they will go on to college. We have had two graduating classes and they have all gone to college. Mr. MORTON. As you view the educational level in the Virgin Islands compared to the standard set in your own school, how do you find it? Reverend HAWES. Congressman, if I may defer a bit on that question I am not sure that the answer to the question will be indicative to the subcommittee. As an independent school we can be very selective with regard to the youngsters we take into the school, whereas the public system-I am a product of a private school system myself all the way through--but they are forced to educate all youngsters. Mr. MORTON. I think you are to be commended, and certainly the diocese which you represent is to be commended for establishing such a school. I think inevitably these schools, though parochial in nature, will contribute greatly to our total educational system. They set fine standards and they fit very well into our American way of life. Do you have any feelings about the question I asked Mr. Henderson about whether the establishment of a procedure for electing a Governor will provide a new sense of responsibility to the people of the Virgin Islands? Reverend HAWES. I do. I think to talk about political maturity when the head of government down here is not directly answerable to the electorate is ridiculous. How can we be politically mature and still have a Governor? Mr. MORTON. Other than the members of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands what other elected officials are there in the Virgin Islands? Are the mayors of the various towns elected? How about the school board? Reverend HAWES. The school board in my school is elected but I am not competent to give you an answer on public schools. Mr. MORTON. I thank you and appreciate your patience in coming before the committee. Mr. CAREY. Further questions? (No response.) Mr. CAREY. Thank you very much, Father Hawes, for a splendid contribution to our deliberations. The next witness to come before the subcommittee is Cephus Rogers, who appears in behalf of the Frederiksted Jaycees. STATEMENT OF CEPHUS N. ROGERS, PRESIDENT OF THE Mr. ROGERS. My name is Cephus N. Rogers. I am president of the Frederiksted Jaycees and editor of the West End News, the local newspaper in the town of Frederiksted. Mr. Chairman and other distinguished members of the committee, your presence here today, whether by choice or circumstance, tells me that you are interested somewhat in Virgin Islands affairs. Whether your interest was unnaturally aroused or whether being elected representatives of your people you have a genuine concern for a people seeking greater autonomy, you will of course agree that the right to elect one's chief executive should not be debated. It is accepted by freemen everywhere as basic as the right to live in this world of ours. (Mr. Rogers' prepared statement follows:) STATEMENT BY CEPHUS N. ROGERS, PRESIDENT OF THE FREDERIKSTED JAYCEES My name is Cephus N. Rogers. I am president of the Frederiksted Jaycees and editor of the West End News, the local newspaper in the town of Frederiksted. Mr. Chairman and other distinguished members of the committee, your presence here today, whether by choice or circumstance, tells me that you are interested somewhat in Virgin Islands' affairs. Whether your interest was unnaturally aroused or whether being elected representatives of your people you have a genuine concern for a people seeking greater autonomy, you will of course agree that the right to elect one's chief executive should not be debated. It is accepted by free men everywhere as basic as the right to live in this world of ours. Your forefathers secured this right with their blood on Bunker Hill, protected it at Gettysburg, and even today men are dying daily in Vietnam so that free men may continue to exercise the right to self determination. Some freedom is achieved without bloodshed, some achieved through fierce and bloody wars; but in every case, however, this freedom was the result of sacrifice by those who cherished freedom and were willing to sacrifice their lives for it. Yes, Mr. Chairman, four Virgin Islanders have died in the Vietnam war fighting side by side with perhaps soldiers from your home State. The Viet Cong bullet did not ask which one of them had the right to elect to his own Governor, nor who was white or black. The Virgin Islander, much like his neighbors in the other Caribbean Islands, is by nature a proud being with few inhibitions. Whether he is walking the streets of New York, Alabama, Texas, or California, he carries himself upright with his head high, believing in his own ability and fearing no one. To tell him that he is not ready to elect his own Governor is like telling your people that they are not now and were never ready to vote for the President of the United States. With all the side issues which will come into play in this hearing, your job will be to disregard the hedges and get to the root of the issue, the one main hope and desire which is burning in the heart of every true Virgin Islander-the right to elect his own Governor first, then later the right to elect his own Representative to Congress. I beg to warn you that the same mentality which opposes the granting of this basic right to the people of these islands is the selfsame one which imposed the Stamp Act on the Colonies in 1776, triggering the Revolutionary War. We are a peace loving people, as the numberless visitors to our shores will attest, and would seek every means sort of violence to obtain what is rightfully ours. If we are less matured than the people of Kenya or the Belgian Congo, or for that matter the people of Georgia or Alabama then we are no better off today than in 1848 when Governor Von Scholten issued his historic proclamation, fifteen years before President Abraham Lincoln did likewise on the mainland. We are proud of our American heritage, but we also want to exercise the same rights as every other American citizen regardless of creed, color or origin. We shall never fire shots in the Halls of Congress, but we shall continue to peacefully demand our right to self-determination. Thank you for listening. |