The San Francisco call., 1898-01-24
GOVERNORS
 SPEAK UPON
 ANNEXATION. Difference of Opinion Among the State
 Executives. Some Declare That Ha- waii is Needed by
 Uncle Sam.
Eight, However, Give Good Reasons for Opposing the
 Proposed Scheme.
DECIDEDLY TOO FAR AWAY
Islands That Could Never Be Turned Into a Desirable State of the
 Union.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

| NEW YORK, Jan. 23.-The Herald has obtained the views of many Cover l nors of States outside of New York on i the subject of the annexation of Ha- waii as follows:
 | Topeka. Kans-I believe the Ha- waiian Islands should be annexed by l the United States for these reasons: | Within a short time. perhaps not more | than forty years. a canal will be built | across the Isthmus of Panama. This | canal should be controlled and gov erned by the United States. The nation | having possession of these islands will ! command the road to that canal, and will also possess the key to the Pacific l Ocean from a maritime standpoint. We i do not know what the naval architec- | ture of the future will be, but at pres ent the best vessels we have are so heavily armored they can carry only | enough coal to keep at sea for short 1 time, and 1t is absolutely essential to provide harbors of refuge and coaling stations within reasonable distances. | My belief is if we allo V Hawaii to slip out of our fingers now, within fifty | years our necessities would compel us | to fight to get possession of the islands, and, therefore, it seems to me to be | good policy to get them while we can in peace. In my judgment, it will be no departure from the Monroe doc | Urine, as these islands are on this con- i tinent and adjacent to our shores, and it would certainly be folly to allow any European nation to take possession of and fortify them, which seems likely to be the case if we permit this opportun- | ity to pass. J. w. LEEDY,
 Governor of Kansas.
 Cheyenne, Wyo.-My opinion is that the annexation of Hawaii is desirable on account of the effect its control will have upon the Nicaragua canal ques- tion. The islands are of such great nav al importance that some strong govern ment is sure to possess them very soon. and they belong geographically to this l country. The interests the United States now own in the islands can be best protected and our trade extended by annexation. W. A. RICHARDS,
 Governor of Wyoming.
 Montgomery, Ala.-I don't believe ! much in our Government adopting a policy of acquiring foreign territory. I | apprehend it would be an eXcueS for establishing a large army and for a ! great increase in our navy. We have domain sufficient for our people for generations to come. I think the an- neXation of Hawaii might increase our commerce and possibly aid in showing the necessity for completing the canal | across the iSthmuS, work that I am anxious to see accomplished as soon as possible. JOSEPH. F. JOHNSON,
 Governor of Alabama. Denver, Colo-While not enthusias- tic I believe the future commercial well fare of the United States would justify the annexation of the Hawaiian Isl ands. But hundred fold more import | ant move would be the building of the | Nicaraguan canal as a guarantee of | future power and empire. We need both, but first of all the canal.
 ALVA ADAMS,
 Governor of Colorado.
 Salt Lake, Utah. am in favor of the annexation of Hawaii with a terri torial form of government, such as Congress may prescribe, because I re- gard it as a political and military ne- cessity that the islands should not pass into the control of any other nation: because the regularly constituted gov ernment of Hawaii Is seeking annexa- tion; because we have a stronger equitable claim to the island than any nity is now ripe to annex them with out serious trouble.
 HEBER M. WELLS.
 Governor of Utah.
 Pierre, s. D.-GovernCr Lee said: ''The first duty of this country is to Cuba, to stop the butchery in that isl ] and at any cost. After that if Hawaii IS or any strategic value to this country and its citizens desire annexation it would probably be good policy to take them in.'
 Annapolis. Md-Gcvernor Iowndes said: "I should be guided in the matter entirely by the views of the adminis- 1 tratlon. l think they are best ac- i quainted with all the facts and know what Is best in the circumstances" Olympia, Wash.-Governor John H. Rogers said that he most emphaticallv favors the policy of annexation of Hawaii. He did not care at this time to give his reasons.
 Nashua, N, Ex-Governor George A. Ramsdell said: You may say I ia vor the annexation of Hawaii"
 Salem, Ore.-Governor William P. Loro said: T am favorably dis posed toward annexation for several reasons. l feel that whether it is the pest thing 1t is necessity to which. as nation, we are forced and cannot well
 Lincoln, Neb.-Governor Silas A. Holcomb said 1T am onposed to the annexation of Hawaii For a century 1t has been n well-defined nol- icy or this country, handed down by it's founders, to avoid a line of action tend ing to entanglements and comnlleations with foreign nations Hawaii is no | part Of the Western Continent in a political sense, and annexation of these islands by the United States would piace our Government in an incon- sistent. absurd and embarrassing atti- tude in the enforcement of the princi- pies of the Monroe doctrine, which can 1 not be surrendered without menacing the very existence of our nation. An neXation would be used as a pretext to appeal to the spirit of militarism of the people of our country It would