The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-12
Travelled Many Miles and Made
Some Speeches.
Warmly Welcomed by the
People of Hawaii.
MET THELONGWORTHS
Visited by a Delegation of
Japanese Editors.
Deeked With Flowers OH Leav-
ing the Islands.

Washington. Sept. 1.-THE visit OF
Secretary Stratus to the Pacific coast
including the Hawaiian Islands. has
been most enjoyable one, and is like
ly to lead to practical results. A firm
believer in the idea that the vast in
terests entrusted to his keeping
could not be entirely administered from
his desk in Washington. the secretary
determined TO make a personal inspec-
ton of the workings of the department
away from the capital and to become
personally acquainted with the various
officials having supervision. He accord d.
lngly planned trip along the Cana
dian border to Vancouver, and thence
south through Seattle and Portland to
San Francisco, with Honolulu as the
ultimate destination Returning to
Washington he talked freely about his
experiences. especially those in the
Hawaiian Islands. When he arrived
at Honolulu the islanders were out in
force TO greet him and his party They
were taken 10 the hotel in automobiles.
the route being lined on both sides by
the people. who We're enthusiastic IN
their demonstrations The presence Of
Representative and Mrs. Nicholas
Longworth added TO the warmth of the
demonstration \ the hotel delegations
from the Board Of Trade, Merchants
Exchange, Chinese, japanese and other
societies greeted the secretary. extend
ed invitations to dinners and made re-
quests for speeches.
SDOkC " LSltAnuCES.
Secretary Straus made several nota-
bic addresses while at Honolulu-one at
. banquet given in his honor by MIR.
Hatch. and at a dinner given by the
Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, the
policy of the government in relation to
the islands was touched upon On the
latter occasion one of the largest and
most representative bodies of business
men ever gathered in Honolulu assem-
bIed to present the commercial needs
of the islands L. A ThurstOn. speak
ing in behalf of the merchants and
planters. described certain commercial
Disadvantages resulting from annexa-
ton, laying particular stress upon the
necessity for a modification of the
coastwise shipping laws applying to the
islands. which penalfze the carrying OF
passengers and freight between tn
territory and the mainland of the Uni
ted States in other than American bot
toms. Owing 10 the infreqUency with
which vessels Of that description stop
al Honolulu. Mr.. Thurston declared that
large quantities of fruit rot upon the
wharves while awaiting shipment, and
that the same lack of transportation
facilities acts as peculiar hardship
upon residents of the territory who
were often obliged. as result of i'll
ness or pressing financial matters, %
leave for the United States on vessel
of foreign registry and thereby incur
the fine of $500 which our navigation
laws impose.
Strauss Reply.
y
Straus assured the islanders that he
would endeavor to have existing griev-
ances remedied, and concluded his adj
dress by saying:
4 have knowledge and experience Of
the fact that one OF the greatest short
comings in the way of the progress of
the islands is that there is not sufficient
communication between them and the
mainland This you must have. and
you ought to have, and speaking indi-
vidually and officially, 1 promise you
that I shall do everything within my
power to assist in getting the shipping
facilities that you need. I have seen
much of the world am familiar with
those places which are the favored
lands for tourists, and my eight days
stay here has convinced me that there
IS no land on the face of the earth,
considering climate and population, and
considering beauty and attractIveness
OF scenery and charms OF hospitality,
which offers so much to the tourist, eth
er in health or pleasure, as this Eden
of the Pacific"
THESE declarations were enthusi-
astically applauded. and upon conclud-
ing the secretary was generously
cheered.
Meets japanese Editors
On another occasion the secretary
was waited upon by delegation of
japanese editors. representing the
four japanese newspapers of Homo |
lulu who called to ascertain his views |
regarding japanese matters in the ter !
euce to Japanese immigration. par !
tfcularly If he believed that the pre- /
ponderance of Japanese in Hawaii was
fnimfcaI to the future welfare of the |
Islands. In reply the secretary said:
IAN ideal condition for the future |
welfare of these Islands would be that /
there should not be too great a pre-
ponderance of anv one race. but that |
an equilibrium be maintained
could impress upon you, and upon
each of the several races here, TO have
a care not to exploit these Islands ana
their resources for the benefit OF the
country from which they come, put
TO act in the spirit of the government
under which they live; of loyalty TO
the interests of the islands which az
ford such happy and ideal homes TOT
them and for their children
These remarks, which were report
ed in all of the spapers-Amerl-
can. Japanese and Chinese, met with
an enthusiastic reception
One of the most interesting dinners
rendered to the secretary was given
BY w r. Castle. an old schOolmate,
who graduated from Columbia univer-
sity with Mr.. Straus. in the law class
of '73. The guests included. the lead
ing educators of the islands. who en-
tertafningly described the public school