The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-08-01
OBJECT To PRATT
ON RIFLE TEAM
Feeling Among the Marksmen
That he is Being
"Rung In.


Interested in the success of the rife
team. which is to represent Hawaii in
the national match at Camp Perry. are
hot with indignation at Pratt 5 butting
in and demanding a place on the team,
without even practising, to say nothing
OF qualifying for the team, would be
putting il mildly. And upon an analv-
SIS Of the case it VIII be seen how
Just their indignation IS.
To those who are ignorant of the
facts word Of explanation is neccs-
sary. An order has been issued BY the
Governor 10 the effect that Land Com
missioner Pratt IS 10 go to Camp Perry
as a member of the rifle team, and
after the shoot is over to proceed 20
Washington 70 confer with the author
ifies there in regard to affairs pertain
ing 10 his work ia Hawaii
Now. while it may be Of the utmost
| Importance that Pratt 90 TO Washing
| ton. the interests of the rife team have
been entirely ignored 1t goes without
saving THAI the Federal authorities ex-
pect Hawaii To send the best available
men with the money given for that pur-
pose The appropriation was certainly
not made TO take a set of dummies TO
Ohio.
1t seems to be generally understood
that Pratt Is net being sent with the
team with any idea that be is tn be
Of any use to It, bat he goes simply
as IA tigurehead
he has done absolutely nothing to
entitle him to a place on the team.
The men are using an entirely different
rifle and much more powerful anrnu-
milton than was used last year and he
has not taken the trouble TO make
himself familiar with the shooting
qualities of the new rifle, to say moth
ing of his neglect to practise.
Mr.. Pratt reputation as a marks
man is not especially high, He made
the trip To Seagirt some years ago. and
al that time made a very poor score
He makes the plea, we understand.
that he qualified for the team last
year, but was ordered by the Governor
10 STAY behind. Upon investigating
the matter we learn that il was Just
barely possible for him TO qualify at
that time. as his scores We're among
the lowest of those trying for the
team. With the new rife and ammuni-
ton 1t seems highly improbable that
without practise he could make any
thing ike decent score at so short
a notice If it should be necessary for
him 10 shoot at Camp Perry, he could
not fail to lower the standard Of the
team 8 work.
The rife team is placed at great
disadvantage in thus having a dead
head thrust upon it. One good man IS
Kept from going, and just the difference
of one man may mean the difference
between success or failure. Major
RjIev has been doing the hardest KIND
of work to turn cut q good team, and
It Is not fair to him to deprive him
If man he has coached up TO be
GOOD shot and give him one about
whom he knows nothing.
But the worst effect Of all rhis Is
not on the team itself. Every man
who i left behind will have bitter
feelings about the treatment that has
been handed him. Americans above ali
others demand fair play. and IN this
case ii has been denied. If this order
"a take Pratt on the team Is not eGun-
fernandez and some other arrange
menf made fer his transportation, mem
hers Of the National Guard VIII have
every reason to believe that the same
treatment NAV be expected at any time
and they can net but fan to lose con
sdenee In those placed over them IN
fact. thew will have every assurance
that anv faithful work Of theirs viii
omit for naught when II shall please
those in command to exercise their
power 10 discriminate against them.
We firmly believe that if the present
orders are carried out and Pratt Is
forced ON the team. it will prove
vary serious blow 30 interest IN the
National Guard. which has already
waned considerably since Colonel sam
johnson left.
The United States has spent millions
Of dollars TO strengthen the militia ali
over the country, has built fne ar
mories and shooting galleries, and has
encouraged men TO become proficient
marksmen in every way possible A
shooting gallery for our own National
Guard has lust been completed at great
axnenee and was built largely to inter
asf osrr Young men in the National
Guard. We might say that an Oppor-
unity to shoot is nOw practically the
only strong drawing card 20 get re-
sr7its. What must we naturally expect
"a become. Of the National Guard II the
move now contemplated Is carried out !
With the fertilization Of Honolulu aud
Pearl Harbor and the additional call
which this viii make upon the militia
those in authority may well CONSIDER
aaria,,slv the effect of any action which
shaft tend 70 dernoraIize interest IN the
National Guard
We 4r7gst that the Governor viii see
rho mistake be has made and The So
rions consequences 10 which il VIII
cod aud rectffv Il before II IS TOO
80 RIFLEMAN
COMMISSIONER PRATT