The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-09-26
STRAUS HOME
FROM HAWAII
Washington Star Gives
Report of His
Trip.
Washington Star, Sept. H.

suits. A firm believer in the idea tina
the vast interests intrusted to his safe
keeping could not be entirely admin
| istered from his desk in Washington
| the Secretary determined to make {
personal inspection of the workings OF
the department away from the capital
and to become personally acquaint-
ed with the various officials having
supervision. He accordingly planned q
| trip along the Canadian border to Van
| couver. and thence south through Seat
tie and Portland to San Francisco, with
Honolulu as the ultimate destination
He returned to Washington today, and
talked freely about his experiences
especially those in the Hawaiian Is
| lands.
When he arrived at Honolulu the IS
landers were out in force to greet him
and his party. They were taken to
the hotel in automobiles, the route be-
ing lined on both sides by the people.
who were enthusiastic in their demon
trations. The presence of Representa-
tive and Mrs. Nicholas Longworth add
ed to the warmth of the demonstra-
ton. At the hotel delegations from
the board of trade, merchants ex-
change, Chinese, Japanese and other
societies, greeted the Secretary, ex-
tended invitations to dinners and made
requests for speeches.
COMPLAINT OF SHIPPING LAWS.
Secretary Straus made several nota-
bic addresses while at Honolulu-one
at banquet given in his honor by
Mr.. 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 bust
ness men ever gathered in Honolulu
assembled to present the commercial
needs of the islanders. l.. A. Thurs
ton, speaking in behalf of the mer
chants and planters, described certain
commercial disadvantages resulting
from annexation, laying particular
stress upon the necessity for modifca-
ton of the coastwise shipping laws ap-
plying to the islands, which penalize
the carrying of passengers and freight
between the territory and the mainland
of the United States in other than
American bottoms. Owing to the in
frequency with which vessels of that
description stop at Honolulu, Mr..
Thurston declared that large quanti-
ties of fruit rot upon the wharves while
awaiting shipment, and that the same
lack of transportation facilities acts
as a peculiar hardship upon residents
of the territory, who were often obliged,
as a result of illness or pressing fnan-
cial matters, to leave for the United
States on vessel of foreign registry
and thereby incur the fine of 5000
which our navigation laws impose.
RESPONSE OF SECRETARY
STRAUS.
Replying to this address Secretary
Straus assured the islanders that he
would endeavor to have existing griev-
ances remedied, and closed his address
by saying:
81 have knowledge and experience
of the fact that one of the greatest
shortcomings in the way of the progress
of the islands is that there is not suffi-
cient communication between them and
the mainland. This you must have, and
you ought to have, and speaking in
dividually and officially I promise you
that [ shall do everything within my
power to assist in getting the shipping
facilities that you need. / have seen
much of the world. I am familiar
with those places which are the favor
ed 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 popu-
latiOn, and considering beauty and at
Effectiveness of scenery and charms of
hospitality, which offers so much to the
tourist, either in health or pleasure,
as this Eden of the Pacifc.''
These declarations were enthusiasts
tically applauded, and upon closing the
Secretary was generously cheered
On another occasion the Secretary
was waited upon by a delegation of
japanese editors, representing the four
japanese newspapers of Honolulu who
called to ascertain his views regarding
Japanese matters in the Territory and
as to his policy with reference to jap
anese immigration, particularly IL he
believed that the preponderance of
japanese in Hawaii was inimica2 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 pre-
ponderance of any one race, but that