The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-01-19
TO FIGHT
FOR GOOD
OF HAWAII
Continued from Page II

| Senate Commission on Pacific Islands
and in general be of service to the
friends of Hawaii who are fighting for
the Territory's future. Mr. Smith goes
to represent the Chamber of Commerce
and other commercial bodies.
Mr.. Smith will have forwarded to him
later memorials which will be passed
upon by the Chamber of Commerce at
it's meeting Of January %. and will have
these presented to the houses of Congress
by some friend of the Islands. He will
spend the remainder of the session at
Washington, and the struggle to pre-
vent the impending danger will not be
given over until the last ditch is storm
ed Mr.. Smith is well known in Wash
ington, having many warm personal
friends there, and he will be able to
voice local public sentiment better than
any man who might be sent in this
crisis.
There is no point on which Mr. Smith,
with the majority of the citizens of the
Territory, feels so deeply as the project
to make these islands the dumping
ground for the unfortunate and i'll of
the entire nation. In conversation over
this matter recently he said that he
could not find words in which to express
his horror at the mere contemplation of
such an outrage upon the people here,
as well as those who would be forced
to come here. He said he had always
expressed his determination to work for
the control of the lepers here, and he
would view any attempt to set up
government over the unfortunates, Of
men who We're unfamiliar with their
habits and ways, as prejudicial to their
comfort
This subject has attracted much at
tention recently, and will receive even
more attention in the future. There are
on foot steps to make the protest which
the feeling of the majority of the people
of the Islands in a way which may not
be disregarded. There has been made
the proposal that the memorials which
are to be sent on as result of meet
ings or otherwise be so drawn and sign
ed as to show that no one class of the
people are interested in the keeping
clean of these Islands, but that the
unanimous wish is that the plan of
Delegate Wilcox be not given the force
of law by Congress. 1t has been sug-
gested that every secret and fraternaI
order, not only here, but throughout the
Islands, each church and religious body
without regard to creed or nationality
be represented, and that the various
professions, from the Bar Association
and the Medical Association on through
the list, the commercial and labor or
CARNATIONS as we'll, be urged to join in
waii as the plague spot of the Pacific, !
rather than the Paradise.
The question of the contest against !
the taking over of the lands of the Ter
ritory under the laws of the United
States is one which will be a feature of =,
the struggle of Mr.. Smith, and the ar
guments are as many and as strong as
were laid before the commission on any
other subject. The special adaptability
Of the laws enacted here after careful
study of the local conditions of value
and accessibility are urged as much !
more applicable to conditions here than
those of the United States, which, franz
ed for handling the immense areas of
the West. where there was reason to
believe that any homesteader would
have no difficulty in making a good liv-
ing, would not be equitable in this coun-
try of immense barren tracts, inter-
spersed with fertile patches.
This fact was recognized by Binger
Herman, late commissioner of the Cen
eral Land Office of the Interior De-
partment, when he suggested that in
the event of any change in the control
Of the lands here there should be varied
of the Territory, so as to
make possible a division on the basis
Of valuations. The principle of the laws
Of the United States was aimed to get
the lands settled at once: while here
the laws, based on those of New Zea-
land, are aimed to conserve the inter-
ests of the small holder, and to place
such restrictions about the privilege of
taking up lands as would make it posi-
sible to secure the best results from a
small area.
The intent of the law is in no place
better shown than in the provisions
which make it possible for the native
Hawaiian to secure a home for himself
md family which is inalienable. 1t was
% this clause that the objection raised
~ the newcomers who have no interest
n the Hawaiian people, and themselves
seek the land in fee, many with the
nope of specializing in the future, SEEM