The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-07
FOR new ARM0RY
Subscription List Ready
for Presentation.
Objections From Business Man.
Suggests That Boys Have
Vacation.

been prepared for presentation to the |
business community, in the hopes that
sufficient funds may be raised 70 start |
the work:
The National Guard OF Hawaii, num- |
bering about 800 men, is the thorough
" equipped and active armed support
Of the Republic. This body has the
distinction of composing the Minute
men, Of the country and the element
which would first be called out TO lead
or repel an attack. TO protect the Gov
eminent and town and TO follow the
enemy into his mountain Businesses.
The moral effect of the Regiment
alone is 10 maintain peace. its strength
and discipline standing as positive
and effective warming to those who
would create strife or abe sedition.
4 most substantial. important and,
in fact. a wholly indispensable factor
of the Regiment is the volunteer ele-
ment The voluteers are the citizen
soIdiery of the Republi, the clerks,
business and labOring men who drill
forty-tWO nights a year and endure
much of the strain of a soldiers life
not for pecuniary reward for there is
nothing in it, but from purely patriotic
motives 1t is this body upon which
the Government would rely, in time or
imminent danger. for solid and un-
swerving support and protection OF life
and property. In peace, the volunteers
are peacemakers: in war, defenders.
The necessity for keeping the
strength of the volunteer forces up to
the highest limit is ever apparent.
With the companies all filed and dis
ciDIined. there would be no need for
so large a force of paid regulars and
the military expenses of the Govern
ment could be very materially reduced.
1t is estimated by some that, with the
volunteer ranks as full as they were
during the insurrection of January.
1895. the paid militia might be safely
reduced to one company of about sixty
men. The advantages of such condl-
ton suggest themselves.
How can this result be attained?
An explanation of the present demon
allied state of the volunteer forces fur
nishes the answer. The company rost-
ers are lighter today than at any peri
cd since the Provisional Government
was established in 1898. The men are
leaving to join the Sharpshooters Com
pany. the Citizens Guard or to leave
the service entirely. They are dis
ged-demoralized.
The trouble can in a large measure
be attributed TO the lack of armory
facilities and accommodations. In no
CITY of the size of Honolulu, particular
capitol and with so large military
forces as must be maintained here, are
the accommodations for the volunteer
| soldiery so utterly inferior and unln-
viting Night after night the men are
| invited into an old, dirty, greasy tin
shed to drill and to hold their meet
tom ont
they accept this condition without
word But for a permanency some
thing approaching neatness and COM
fort is required The effect of such
accommodations is that the men tire of
| the service and no inducement will
long hold them together. A commodi-
| ous armory one neat and equipped
| with the usual requirements of the
volunteer soldier is the pressing de-
mand of the moment.
The officers of the National Guard
| have secured plans for just such
structure as is required. and one that,
while being in the line of economy,
will be a credit TO the Regiment. the
! Government and the city. The prints
| call for q building. of brick or stone,
two or three stories high to face Hotel
street on Miller. In the rear of it will
|
| length as the old structure now in
! use On the first floor of the main
| building it is purposed to have the
| private armories or rooms of the six
volunteer companies. Each will be fur
nished and provided with gun-ricks
! and lockers for uniforms. etc. On the
second floor it is purposed to have
! library and reading room. light games,
| such as cards. checkers. chess, etc,
and reception rooms for the companies.
! From the company rooms doors Will
omen into the great drill hall. The
/ latter will be large enough to accom-
mOdate two or more companies drill
| ing at a time From the reception
| rooms. upstairs doors will open into
the gallery over the drill hall. Thus
| guests of the companies or visitors
| to the armory may view drills without
being in the way or being under the
necessity of standing Below the build
ing will be a basement, extending its
entire length and breadth. 1t will be
| a range for target shooting. bowling
alley. and other appliances and Incl
dentals to be suggested as the project
gets farther along. Altogether the ar
morv will combine all required for the
comfort and convenience of the men.
| The least that can be said of the pro-
posed armory is that it will subserve an
! excellent purpose. and will an attrac-
tive and valuable public structure. To
build and equip it will require con-
/ siderable outlay. OF course the Gov
eminent will assist but much depends
upon and is expected Of citizens TO
carry the project through at an early
date few large subscriptions would
enable the committee TO he intrusted
| with the work TO proceed. and in a
short time the building would be an
| assured fact.
When the above was shown to a
| prominent business man, who has ia
ken part in nearly every scheme gotten
n