Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-28
BY +. s. G0ODHUE, MD.
Holualoa

/
TO me through the mail:
Dear Friend: Enclosed you
will find description of Hetch-Het-
chy Valley, and brief discussion of
the immediate danger which threat
ems It now. If YOU are like-minGed
with us, ask you land others whom
you may persuade) to kindly address
personal letter, in your own words,
essentially as follows:
ITO the President or the Secretary
of the Interior. or to both,
| Washington, ID. c.
"'As a lover OF the Yosemite Ma
tional Park, most devoutly protest
against the uses of one of its most
beautiful and impoi tant features, the
Hetch-Hetchy, as a reservoir.
AN abundance of water can be
had elsewhere to supply San Fran
cisco.
Signed ..........'
| Thanking you In advance for your
attention to the request. am, ever,
JOHN MUIR"
! submit this note with the added
dun for publication in the hope that
others interested will drop a letter
to the President asking him to uee
his influence in the matter. He is
not only lover of nature, but n
warm friend of Mr. Muir, rs anyone
must be who knows him.
Perhaps some good. honest citizen
will think It is useless to write such
Il letter, and say to himself: ''Well,
of course. I'd like To see Hetch-INt-
chy saved from dissertation, but what
good will letters from unknown per-
sons like DR.. Goodhue and myself do.
anyhow? viii the President even
see the letters?"
II is good to be modest. but It Is
not wise for a citizen of our great
country to think that because he Is
not rich or influential or well known,
he Is a non-entity. and has no say-so
in the real management of his coun-
trys concerns. He may have more
than he thinks,
II was a habit OF Mr.. McKinley's,
as 1t is of Mr.. Roosevelt's, to go far
afield to get the honest opinion of n
sincere. intelligent man. They were
glad to get confidential message
from one not in politics; to consult
some obscure citizen. farmer, tailor,
doctor, or carpenter, whose convic-
tions they knew we're clear-cut and
whose expression would be sincere.
They often passed by the better
: known Governor, Senator, or other
state Official.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was down
South he declined an invitation to q
reception given by the Governor, say
, ing that he was to be only few
: hours in the place, and he wanted to
spend that time with n certain farm
er out of the city who had written
him sound letter on the negro
question.
Il | wrote to Mr.. Roosevelt as re-
quested by Mr.. Muir, and very prompt
ly received letter from the Presi.
dent written by his Secretary ack-
nowledging the communication with
thanks.
Merely form. you say. Very
true, but recorded, nevertheless, and
with others filed for future reference
when the matter Is to be finally set.
tied. Would you feel big If the
President of the United States should
write you confidential letter ask.
ing you what you thought about a
certain appointment in your Terri.
tory? II SO, you have little conccp.
tiOn of the relations between the cit,
izen of a democratics country like
ours and the Executive. The Presi
!, dent is the servant of the people. as
Mr.. Cleveland said. He is hedsed IN
by a great deal of necessary red-tape
!, the country is so large; but he does
still keep his eye open for a disinter'
A ested man of opinions who is not
afraid to express them, and he does
still get a true conception of far
, away local matters from the least
expected Of men.
A clerk in dry goods store in At
lanta was consulted by Mr.. McKin
ley as to the wisdom of most i'm
portant appointment in Georgia, ant
the clerks advice was followed. But
OF course. the cler.; was good, hon
: est intelligent man whose yard @
calico carried the full number o
inches, and he was interested In 9th
or things besides his business; h,
didn't keep still when he though
his word was needed, and he WASH