The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-08-09

better accommodation than is now af-
forded.
During the past few months scores
Of people have been discouraged from
coming 10 Honolulu by the uncertainty
Of securing return accommodation
within any fixed or reasonable time,
and as a direct consequence, the hotel
and general business interests of our
Islands have suffered.
Lei me cite specific case Within
the last month cabIegrams were re-
ceived by the Moana hotel manage
ment from different parties in China
making reservation for fully thirty per
cent of the accommodation offered by
that hotel. Then came other cable
grams stating that inasmuch as the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company could
not promise accommodations from Ho-
noluIu TO San Francisco in the near
future, the stop at Honolulu would
have TO be abandoned Go 70 the
steamship offices and look at the book
ings. II has often been found neces-
sary to book for several steamers
months ahead in order to get away
from the Islands at or near the time
desired. The same conditions apply to
the monthly service between Vaucou-
YER and Honolulu. Many OF our peo-
PIE having friends or relations in Can
ada and wishing to go that way have
been compelled TO abandon the trip.
we are glad to learn that there is
likelihood of the early establishment
OF direct steamship connection between
Honolulu and Seattle and with the
building of the Hartman lines into
San Diego, which viii be an accom-
plished fact within the next two years,
we may hope for steamship connection
with that growing port. These enter
prises viii be helpful in developing
Hawaii's vast and varied agricultural
resources. which are bound to make
our islands the most prosperous tropi-
cal country in the world. Our future
agriculturany and commercially is in
deed q bright one. but II is not OF the
future we think so much as the pres
ent and the urgent demand today for
better steamship accommodation.
Until the present unbearable dis
against travel TO and from
our islands is changed, not temporari-
y but permanently, the government Of
the United States should suspend the
Coastwise Shipping law as far as it
refers TO passenger traffic and thus
raise the present boycott against the
Territory Of Hawaii.
SECRETARY STRAUs REPLIES.
In his reply the Secretary gave much
10 all who heard him,
his address being the following:
I think that this meeting should
hare been called for me TO hear ad-
7resses rather than to make one. All
hat can say 10 you. gentlemen, are
simply platitudes. I have been very
much Interested IN the graphic and
careful remarks Of Mr.. Thurston and
# Mr.. McCandless and much instruct
ID I wish also 70 tell you that. while
occupy the position of member OF
he cabinet. am not, 10 quote Speaker
yannon. the whole shooting match. I
preside over the Department Of Com (
nerce and Labor, which has very ex-
enSfve Jurisdiction. and I am very
.areful to keep within the limits Of
hat executive department and find 4
hat I have nay hands full even then
7 have been very agreeably surpris- /
a at what I have found here. / knew |
-erv little Of the Hawaiian Islands and 4
found that I had learned very little 4
y reading about them and from hear 4
ay. I do not wish TO compliment you /
\ idle phrase, but I must say that I
ave been gratified at meeting such /
nergerfc, capable, wideawake men as I
-ou have here in al grades and occu- /
,atfons. I am gratif7ed 10 find Amer /
cans 50 well represented in these is (
ands. We have always maintained +
hat the American crucible was the
most effective Of that Of all nations. /
he most effective ever held out to all /
ouers. we are very modern ma I
ion and even dating back 10 the time 4
. the landing % the Pilgrim Fathers 4
70 ara very young. bat from all parts \
Z Europe and 10 a limited extent from 4
IT parts Of the world enterprising i'm 4
Migrants have been coming TO Us and 4
ur American ideals have strengthened 4
nd grown from year 70 year
IN Spea king 70 4 number Of the gen
lernen here one fear seems 70 be that
rnerican ideals might disappear from
10 fulands unless more Americans
o-7Ta be induced 10 come here than
eeus to be the drawing capacity OK
h Islands I an therefore gTatiflea
, hear from Mr. Thurst0n that there
no danger on this score an
1aazA5 because 7 believe that he Is