The Washington herald., 1906-11-20

Sidney Ballou. a lawyer OF Honolulu
IS at the Shoreham. He is intensely in
terested in the development of the Ha-
waiian Islands. and says in passing that
the heavy immigration Of japanese is not
n menace. His attention was called to a
dispatch from Japan that %, 900 Nipponese
were in Yokohama, waiting 20 be trans
ported to Honolulu. He said: It can
hardly believe that is true; but, if so, il
is good news"
But does not the japanese population
OF Hawaii already outnumber that of all
other nationalities combined?' he was
asked
why. yes, five to one, I should say
but what of that?" he replied. IF there
is to be trouble with Japan. the mere fact
of a preponderance of Japanese on the
islands does not mean anything. They
might rise and take the islands if they
wished; they are strong enough to do.
that now, but that would settle nothing.
The real struggle for their possession
would be on the sea.
Japan Dependent on America.
Il doubt that there will be any trouble
between Japan and the United States. be-
cause 1 realize fully how much Japan
prosperity, which is growing, depends on
the United States. / don't know the ex-
act proportion, but 1 should say that
fully 20 per cent of her exports are pur-
chased by this country, and you may be
sure that the Oriental merchant is too
keen to permit any light matter to lead
his country into war. Japan has not re-
covered from the effects Of her war with
Russia, and she must devote years Of
effort and her best energies to the devel-
Opment Of her resources.
AS to the troubles in san Francisco
over the japanese school children, 1t
comes. as all the anti-Japanese feeling on
the Pacific Coast has come primarily. from
the labor unions. OF course. they are "a
power and they have a right 10 seek re-
dress for any fanCied grievances in any
legitimate way, but ii is unfortunate that
they should have chosen the japanese TO
pick upon.
Glad to Get Jap Immigrants.
THE great question Of to-day in Ha-
waH is the labor problem, and It is the
hardest we are called upon to solve. The
immigration OF japanese has done much
to help US, and recently we have been
encouraging Portuguese immigration from
the Azores. The Chinese, who make ideal
laborers on the sugar and banana planta-
tions. are barred. Of course, by the United
States laws.
we need immigrants who will bring
their wives and families and settle there;
make homes for themselves. and become
real citizens. The japanese do this.
We feel that We are pretty badly of
in Hawaii. as regards protection from the
United States. and we are hoping that
our delegates to Congress. Jonah Kuhlo
Kalanlanaole I'VE call him Prince Cupid
on the islands) viii be able 10 call atten-
tion to our needs. Recently the Navy
Department has recalled all battle ships
from the Pacific, content TO have our in
terests guarded there by armored cruis-
e-s.
Not Fort on the Islands.
We have not even a single fort on the
Hawaiian Islands. The last Congress
made a small appropriation looking to
fOrtificatiOns, and believe land for the
purpose has been condemned at Waikiki.
at Pearl Harbor. and az Kaimula, back
of Diamond Head, but there the thing
rests.
Why the government has not even pro-
vided the islands with the necessary light
houses and buoys to insure the safety Of
navigation, and this was demonstrated in
a costly manner enough by the wrecking
OF the Manchuria. and within a week the
grounding Of the Mongolia
AT Pearl Harbor there is supposed 10
be a coaling station. but there is no coal
there yet, for if there was and war broke
out, the first hostile ship could come and
take it. as far as any protection We could
give II is concerned.
In some ways we feel, Of course. that
Hawaii has been little benefited by an
nexatiOn 10 the United States In the old
days the customs duties We're used for the
benefit Of the Islands. To-day the great
bulk goes into the United States Treasury.
After paying all the expenses Of the terri
torial government we send the rest 10 this
country, and this amounts, In round num-
bers, 20 $4,000 annually We feel that
this should be spent or at least part Of il.
on muCh-needed public improycments-on
lights and lighthouses, on Notifications
that viii protect US, on a breakwater for
Pearl Harbor. and other things