The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-12-18
WASHINGTON STARS
CHAT ABOUT ATKINSON
R'rom the Washington Star, Dec. 81

(From the Washington Star, Dec 81
An economic and social evolution is
impending in Hawaii, according to Mr..
"A. L. c. Atkinson, Secretary of the
Territory of Hawaii and President of
the Territorial Board of immigration,
who is now in Washington. Mr.. Atkin-
son evidently is not in sympathy with
the doleful story told by Prince Jonah
j. Kalanianaole, delegate in Congress
for Hawaii, who said, upon his arrival
in Victoria the other day, that Hawaii
was in the throes of commercial disas-
ter. due to the fact that Chinese were
not admitted as laborers, and that the
japanese and Portuguese were leaving
the islands in great numbers. The
prince-delegate is reported to have said
that the remedy lay with Congress and
that the Chinese exclusion laws would
have to be modified, in SO far as Ha
wall was concerned.
Mr. Atkinson. however. is working
along another line, and he is looking
over the ground from more optimistic
point of view. He is here to interest a
better class of immigrants, and from
this country he will go to Europe and
advertise the advantages of Hawaii
from the Lands End of England to the
backwoOds of Turkey. Not that he ex-
poets to get many English immigrants
or that he wants many Turkish immi-
grants, but he wants everybody to
know all about the islands in the mid
Pacific. and he wants them to feel that
they are welcome any old time
THE SOCIAL EVOLUTION.
AS to the social evolution, Mr.. Atkin
son thinks the time has come to well
come the departure of the Chinese.
japanese, Portuguese and the various
other ''ese's'' from the Hawaiian Is
lands, and to extend the glad hand to
class of immigrants that vii. make
good American citizens. Personally
Mr.. Atkinson likes the Chinese and the
Japanese. and he does not deny them
the credit for consdera Bile development
i, of the Territory, but he realizes, and
the conservati tive business interests OF
the Territory realize, that what the
islands need is good citizenship-men,
and women, too, who will enter into the
social and governmental organization,
and who will cooperate with Uncle
Sam to bring Hawaii up to the COM
mercial. industrial and intellectual
plane where rest her sister Territories
and States.
consequently NJ SANhiliSbl VIII Ctl 60
his energies on Italy, Germany and
| France. He thinks that the people of
these countries will be best adapted to
the warm climate of the Hawaiian Is
lands, and he believes that in these
three classes can be found the requi-
| sites of good citizenship. In order to
lsnduce these people to leave their re-
spective Netherlands and try conclu-
| sions in a new country, Mr.. Atkinson
| is empowered by the Territorial Board
| To offer homesteads. where the immi-
grant may locate. build his house and
till the soil. He may devote his time
! to cultivating the sugar cane or COT
| fee, or he may turn his talents to pro
! ducing the ordinary vegetables for
! market. Whatever he wants to do, the
| Immigrant will have ample opportunity.
and the moral and substantial support
| of the Territorial Board.
WILL NOT ASK MODIFICATION OF
LAW.
In view of this. Mr.. Atkinson is not
sorry that the Chinese are leaving and
he will not join hands With the prince
delegate to urge Congress to ameliorate
labor conditions in the islands by modl-
fvine the Chinese exclusion laws. Mr.
Atkinson will leave Monday for New
York. where he is to be delegate 10
the convention of the civic federation
which begins December 6. The fedora
tion probably will devote considerable
time to a discussion of the immigra-
tion problems affecting all the states
and Territories under this government,
and Mr.. Atkinson may have an inter-
asting word to say when the conven-
ton calls on Hawaii.