The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-02-07
HAWANANs
At WASHINGTON
CMan Special to the Advertiser.)

(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 25.-The
Hawaiians here in the interest of ter
ritorial legislation have been very busy
during the past week. They have
found themselves in position to ad-
vance various measures somewhat.
after the long preparatory period of
the last two or three months.
Next Tuesday there is to be hear
ing before the Navy committee of the
House, when Delegate Kalanianaole,
Mr. George B. Mcclellan, Mr.. H. P.
Wood and probably others, will fur
Dish some data ans, information re-
garding the improvement of Pearl
Rarbor The subject of improving and
fortifying Pearl Harbor and of forti-
flying Hawaii generally has been re-
ceiving much attention here recently
and the Capitol is alert to the matter.
a few days ago Mr.. James L. Coke Of
Maui, called on the President, accnm-
panied by Representative Cole of Ohio.
The President expressed to Mr.. Coke
his very great interest in the improve
ment of Pearl Harbor and said he
wanted a drydock there. He also sta
ted that he. was going to send special
message to Congress about the i'm
provement of the Harbor
Since then the President has been
showing further interest in fortifying
Hawaii. He has been writing to mem
bers of Congress calling their atten-
ton to the conditions there and to the
necessity for appropriations. He has
also talked with many Congressional
callers about the need of liberal ar-
preparations all along the Pacific
Coast and in Hawaii.
CHAIRMAN HULL'S VIEWS.
Chairman Hull, of the House Com
mittee on Military Aaffirs, has re-
ceived one of the Presidents letters. |
incidentally it has converted him to
the Presidents way of thinking, and
while Mr.. Hull is not member of the
committee which prepares the forti-
fications measure, he stands ready 20
give his support to a liberal bill.
Il endorse every word the President
says about the desirability of fortify-
ing not only the Pacific Coast, but the
Hawaiian Islands," said Mr.. Hull re-
Gently.
1.-The Presidents letter referred ex-
clusively to Hawaii, which he appar-
emily regards as the vital point, in a
strategic sense, in the West. There IS
no place on the entire continental Uni
ted States so greatly in need of pow
erful batteries as Pearl Harbor. IN
my opinion it is far more essential to
fortify it than San Francisco, Puget
Sound or any of the other coast cities.
1.-The reason is simple. If an enemy
We're to take possession of Hawaii it
would have a base from which it could
harass the entire Pacific Coast. With
out such a base there is absolutely
nothing to be feared from a foe COM
ing from the Far East. No enemy
could send a fleet across the Pacific
and take it back again without receiv-
ing fresh supplies of coal. 1t is not
practicable for a Japanese fleet, for
instance, to undertake this cruise with
its own Golfers. But with Pearl Har-
bor controlled by the japanese the sit
nation would be very different.
II think Congress has neglected Ha-
waii long enough, and that from now
on ample funds should be provided for
guns, mortars, and other
offensive equipment there. For my part
1 shall do all in my power to back up