The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-07-31
STRAUS
ON HAWAII
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND
LABOR HERE TO GET IDEAS FOR
HIS DEPARTMENT.

q have come to your little continent
for the first time to get acquainted
with the people and the conditions and
see what can be done in the power Of
my department for the welfare of the
Territory and the betterment of the
interests of the Federal Government"
said Secretary Oscar S. Straus of the
Department of Commerce and Labor
to a Star reporter aboard the S. S. ST.
IBERIA as she lay off port this morning
81 am here for ten days or so to
see what is needed in the way Of
lighthouses, life-saving stations and
aids to navigation and to become ac-
quainted with labor and immigration
and emigration conditions, also to
learn something first hand of the re-
sources of the Islands,
Secretary Straus had just come on
deck from breakfast with the Long
worths and A. L. c. Atkinson. He
had enjoyed his trip from San Fran
cisco and would not consent to be in
terviewed until he had stepped to the
rail and paid homage to nature as rep
resented by the beautiful first glimpse
of Honolulu and the city's surround
ings. Having worshipped in silence
moment he proceeded to light cigar
and talk.
81 am in the habit of debating my
interviews" began Secretary Straus.
81 sometimes find that newspapers
credit me with saying more than
utter. However, do not care to die
tate an interview at present. 1t might
be well for me to wait until l have
had an opportunity of observing
things here little. What is it that
you would like to know?"
Secretary Straus was informed that
ris coming to Hawaii had been looked
forward to with a great deal of inter-
: est and that it was generally presum-
ed that benefits for the islands would
follow his coming. There would be
a host of folks to tell him things and
he would hear stories from a diane
! trically opposed points of view
Eyes, We have to steer for the mid
+ die course" laughed Secretary Straus
n 81 have no ideas at present" con-
o tinued the Secretary, lin regard tc
lighthouses, aids to navigation or 9TH
y err essentials; that's what I'm here for
II to get ideas.
+ Il expect to return to San Francis
co on the steamship ASIA so l haven't
, very long to stay. 1 want to visit the
Island of Hawaii if ! can find time to
! do so. In any event l shall make a
r very careful study of this Island.
"Ah, is that not exquisite!" and the
Secretary pointed his cigar toward the
palm groves of Waikiki beyond which
doomed the mountains bather in the
early light and washed with every va
ration of blues, greens and puppies.
? Later the U. S. immigration Station
was pointed out to him by Inspector
in-Chief Raymond Brown. From the
bagpole of the station floated the
Stars and Stripes. With deep inter-
est, forgetting his cigar, the Secretary
J followed the shore line of the haI'oor,
from the Naval Station to the great
, wharves of the railway and he remark
ed that the city's gateway appeared to
indicate a metropolis of greater pro-
portions than he had anticipated.
! Continuing his conversation with
the reporter, Secretary Straus said:
THE Importance of the Hawaiian
Islands in commerce will before long
be demonstrated to far greater ex-
tent than has been generally anticipat-
, ed. These Islands certainly are cap
able of great things commercially.
+ Here is the crossroads of the Pacific
and the United States most important
: Pacific port Legislation will, neces-
- sarily, do all for these Islands that
their importance demands, for the In
/ terests Of the Islands are so wrapped
up in the interests of the United States
! that the development of every natural
r advantage here is an added benefit to
America.
4 Il am not going to say that | am
here with a view to recommending q
: modification of the Chinese exclusion
law, nor viii say that l am consld-
ering a possible recommendation, mol
will l say that am considering a pos
sible recommendation that the Japa-
nese from Hawaii be admitted to the
mainland States Just now l am moi
going to dwell on the details of the
plans of my visit.
T. ITO a large extent my plans will
! form as l see the necessity for action
Secretary Straus is accompanied by
his wife, his 16-year-old son and his
private secretary.
X X X X X X X X X X kkk X K X 4
period of two years. One of the stor,
rooms is on Waianuenue street mex