The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-04-10
IN SAVANNAH
w. 0. Smith Entertained
With Dewey,
Former Attorney General Tells Of
Hawaii in an Interview in
That City,

Hon. W. q. Smith was In Savannah
during Admiral Dewey's visit there
and was, in company with Surgeon
General Wyman, a guest of Dewey 8
hosts. The Admiral, Gen. Wyman and
Mr.. Smith were entertained as a party
on the river excursion when Dewey
fell i'll. Mr.. Smith was also present at
the Dewey banquet. -
The Savannah News of March %,
publishes an interesting interview with
Mr.. Smith. 1t is as follows:
Among the speakers at the Dewey
banquet tonight viii be Hon. William
o. Smith, ex-Attorney General OF the
Hawaiian Islands, who Will speak upon
Our New Possessions" The subject
has doubtless fallen into able hands.
Mr.. Smith was Attorney General of
the Hawaiian Islands for six years. He
had previously been member of the
Hawaiian Legislature for twenty-five
years, and besides this he is a native
Hawaiian. A more typical American
in appearance, however, cannot be
found. Mr.. Smith might be easily mis-
taken for a Westerner or a Southern
er. though his people came from Con-
necticut.
The relations of Hawaii to the
United States are different from those
of Porto Rico or the Philippines said
Mr. Smith yesterday. Hawaii is as
thoroughly American as any other por-
ton of our territory. Americans have
been in control for more than a gener-
alton, and all our institutions are
American. Our public school system
is second to none in the United States
and Honolulu is one of the most mod
ern and most progressive cities Of its
size to be found anywhere on the
globe. The best evidence that this is
true is that there are 5000 bicycles in
Honolulu. We have electric lights.
electric railways, paved streets, and
every other modern improvement"
You see," said Mr.. Smith, the
Americans have been in Hawaii for
eighty years, the missionaries having
landed there in 1920. AS result the
canized. The late Hawaiian monarchy
was supported and controlled by
Americans"
AS to the population of Hawaii Mr..
Smith said that the total is about 140,-
600, consisting of Americans, Kanakas,
or native Hawaiians, Portuguese, Jap
anese and Chinese. Although the
Americans are only about 10 per cent
of the population they are easily in
control. This is probably accounted
for by the limitations placed upon the
suffrage.
Americans, Portuguese and Kama
kas are allowed to VOTE" said Mr..
Smith. There are two houses of the
Legislature. For the Lower House
manhood suffrage prevails, but there
is an educational qualification. For
the Upper House there is also prop
erty qualification. The Japanese and
Chinese have no vote. The Govern
ment is that of, q republic, and not a
territory, having President instead
OF Il Governor"
Upon the downfall of the monarchy
Mr.. Smith resigned his position as At
torney General. For the last several
months he has been in Washington in
the interest of the Chamber of Com
merce of Honolulu, which is opposed
to certain features of the Hawaiian act
now pending in Congress, notably the
suffrage features, which have been the
subject of considerable discussion.
Mr.. Smith is well acquainted with
DR.. R. p. Myers and speaks very high
iy of him. He was much pleased to
learn that Savannah is DR.. Myers ma
tive city.