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


Dear Friend: Enclosed you
will find a description of Hetch-Het-
chy Valley, and a brief discussion of
the immediate danger which threat
ems 1t now. II yod are like-minded
with US, IL ask you and others whom
you may persuade) TO Kindly address
a personal letter, in your own words,
essentially as follows:
(" To the President or the Secretary
of the Interior, or to both,
Washington, d. c.
LAS a, lover of he Yosemite Ma
tional Park, most devoutly protest
against the uses OF one of its most
beautiful and impoita features, the
Hetch- Hetchy, as Il reservoir.
IAN abundance OF water can be
had elsewhere to supply San Fran
cisco.
b.. Signed ............'
Thanking you in advance for your
attention to the request, am. ever,
r.h - JOHN MUIR"
I submit this not with the adden-
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 a
wprm friend of Mr. Muir. as anyone
must be who knows him.
Perhaps some good. honest citizen
will think It is useless to write such
a letter, and say to himself: We'll,
of course, I'd like to see Hetch-Het-
chy saved from dissertation, but what
good will letters from unknown per-
sons like DR.. Goodhue and myself do
anyhow? Will the President even
see the letters?"
II is good to be modest, but 1t Is
not wise for citizen OF our great
country to think that because he |.
not rich or influential or well known
he is a non-entlty, and has no say-sc
in the real management of his coun'
try's concerns. ole, may have more
than he thinks.i "tr
, II was a habit OF Mr.. McKinley's
as It is Of Mr.. Roosevelt's. to go fal
afield to get the honest opinion of {
sincere. intelligent man. They wer,
glad to get confidential message
from one not IN politics; to consul
some obscure citizen. farmer. tailor
doctor, or carpenter, whose convic
lions they knew were clear-cut an,
whose expression would be sincere
They often passed by the better
known Governor, Senator, or othe
State official.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was dow,
South he deqlinei Jan invitation to
reception given by the Governor, say
ing that he wase to be only few
hours in the place, and he wanted t.
spend that time with a certain farm
err out,8f the chy who had writer
him a sound letter on the negr
question.
|, | wrote to Mr.. Roosevelt as re
quested. by Mr.. Muir, and very promp
ly received n letter from the Presi
dent, written by his Secretary ach
nowledging the communication witt
thanks.
Merely a form. you saw. Yer
true, but recorded, nevertheless, an
with others filed for future refercnc
when the matter IL to be finally SGT
tied. Would YOU feel big IL tn
President OF the United States shout
write you a confidential letter ask
ing you what you thought about
certain appointment In your Terri
tory? lf'so, you have little conccp
ton OF the relaIions between the cit
izen OF democratic country Xix
ours and the Executive. The Presl
dent is the servant OF the people. a
Mr. Cleveland said. He is hedsed 4
by a great deal of necessary red-tapt
the country is SO large: but he doe
still keep his eye, open for disinter
ested man of opinions who is nc
afraid to express them, and he doe
still get true conception of fai
away local matters from the leas
expected OF men.
A clerk ina dry goods store in Al
lanta was consulted by Mr.. McKin
ley as to the wisdom OF most In
portant appointment in Georgia, an
the clerks advice was followed. Blu
OF course, the clerk was good, hor
est, intelligent man whose yard {
calico carried the full number
inches. and he was interested in oti
or things besides HIS business: h
didn't keep still when he though
a