Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-21
HAWAIIAANS OBJECT
DO NOT WANyNNATIoNAL LAzA-
RErTo AT MoLoKA1.
Proposition Of ssss4ate Commission for
Federal Leper Colony Re-
Ia
scented.
Special Correspondent Of The Evening Star

Special Correspondents Of The Evening Star.
HONOLULu2EIH.. January 9, 1903
Within few hours after the news was
received here by cable that the Senate COM
mission on Hawaii had recommended that
the leper settlement on Molokai be made
federal settlement, to which lepers from
the mainland should be sent. the repub-
lican territorial central committee had be-
gun the preparation of a memorial Of pro-
test, the Honolulu chamber of commerce
called a meeting and drafted a cable Of
protest to the chairmen Of several House
and Senate committees and a number Of
citizens wired objections to President Roose-
welt. Senator Hanna and other influential
men.
The brief draft Of the committees report
as far as the leper settlement clause Is con-
cerred. The majority Of the recommends
lions Of the commission aroused unmixed
satisfaction, there being only one other, in
fact. to which objection is heard here That
relates to the land laws. but, the recommen-
dalton as sent by cable is not very clear
and 1t Is not known here yet Just what was
recommended.
Surprised and Disappointed.
When Senators Mitchell, Foster and Bur-
ton were here, the impression was general
that the two former strongly opposed the
national lazaretto scheme, while Burton's
attitude was more doubtful This Is why
the recommendation was surprise The
reasons why 1t was q disappointment are
many. and will be earnestly presented at
Washington.
In the first place Hawaii objects to the
reputation she will gain If Molokai Is made
the site Of a lazaretto. To the great ma
jority Of the people on the mainland Ha-
wall Is all one. They have no conception of
the distances between the islands,, and do
not know that the Island Of Molokai Is far
enough from Oahu to be out of sight on
the horizon. except from an elevation. Ha-
wall would simply get the reputation Of
being a '.leper country" and tourists would
shun the place as well as other travellers
Leprosy Decreasing in Hawaii.
Leprosy Is on the, decrease in Hawaii.
The number OF people at the settlement
now is $50 which is less than for years.
and with the death Of the present genera
ton the disease promises to be stamped
our to such an extent that a large 1eper
settlement Will be thing OF the past in
Hawaii But II a constant source of sup
ply Is to come from the mainland, the
settlement must be regarded as per-
manency. and the islands will never lose
the enemy against which the little Ha-
waiian monarchy waged so brave and ex-
pensfve contest 4. The settlement now
costs the territory lover 100000 a year.
but the saving oftth4stby turning It over to
federal control is not sconsidered at all.
The mixture OF, races at the settlement
would work to thedetriment of the Ha-
watians. Practically all the lepers are ma
tive Hawaiians. sThey, are gentle peace
able, as comfortable oas is possible under
the circumstances. land they are looked
after by people OF their own blood, who
know their needs and their ways Of liv-
Ing. To add lepers from all over the great
| mainland, Of all races. would be to in
troduce eiementsuof sdiscord, and the set
Element would losa much Of its quiet and
its distinctively Hawaiian color. Add to
this the fear. well founded If the state
ments Of Senator sBurtin are to be credited.
that the federal government would pro-
| nulgate more strict rules at the settlement,
and 1t is not to be wondered that the plan
Of making a national lazaretto on Molokai
ID strongly ,opp0seabfbyy allithe 1epers and
by Hawaiians all soHex the .territory, who
have friends or relatives at the settle
| ment. During the last campaign In Hawaii
thousands Of letters were sent out by
| lepers pleading with Hawaiians to vote
against the lazaretto scheme, and polfti-
clans In Hawaii, generally attribute the de-
| feat OF Wilcox and the election of the re-
publican candidate to Wncox's having
| favored federal control of the settlement.