Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-08-24

have struck him when his stock OF
excuses was phenomenally low. At
any rate, he couldn't seem to beg off,
so he very reluctantly went aboard
and the yacht started
Sidestepped the Trip.
But just as II lett it's anchorage
the president suddenly declared that
he had forgotten something of the
utmost Importance, and that he'd
have to 60 back after It Threats.
prayers, entreaties-all were in vain.
The mysterious something must he
got, and BY no other hand than his.
IA small boat was called, for the
president insisted on rowing himself
ashore In local boat. and OF he
went. Yes. sir: off he went-and he
never came back. And that you I'm.
derstand was his one and only yacht.
ing trip for pleasure.
III you could whang the whole ship
around, maybe he'd like It better.
But when he has voyage of any
consequence to make, as the cruise
to Panama. he doesn't go on the May
aower anyway. He goes on big
battleship, where there are plenty Of
things to keep him interested.
"As for the Mayfower,-she Is sent
off on plenty OF other missions be.
sides that of carrying the president.
She Is sent on very many missions
when less expensive vessel Is not
available. She Is an l,S00.ton ship,
and, of course. II costs good deal
to run her, but she Is often sent on
special service without any regard to
the president"
At this point there is another en-
cellent opportunity to stir up the ma.
val person. Just intimate that the
Mayflower is pictured by the popular
mind as sort of floating palace,
furnished and maintained most lux
uriously for the presidents use.
Never mind the actual language,
but here are few simple facts drawn
out by the above remarks. The May.
flower was not used by the president
until after her commission In 1902.
Something less than two years later
there was a good deal of political talk
about the extravagant fitting up o.
the vessel and her use as. sort of
pleasure boat by the president.
That was just before tine national
conventions four years ago and John
Sharp Williams got wrought up over
the awful sinfulness of the president
picnicking in floating palace at the
public expense. John Sharp said so
in congress. To which Moody, then
secretary of the navy, replied with
these facts:
Some Significant Facts.
During the twenty-one months
which had elapsed since the pres:.
dents first use of the Mayilower. he
had travelled on her Just 81 miles.
During that time the vessel had sail.
ed $4,000 miles. Even the mind of n
party opponent could grasp the fact
that she had been doing little some.
thing during those twenty.one months
besides carrying the president around.
During that period he had spent
upon her a total of forty hours. That
was less than two days And of these
forty hours, all, except upon one &C.
casion, were spent in the performance
of official duties"
The president was not there on
pleasure-except that unfading rap.
ture which he takes In the perform
ance of his official duties.
But" said the John Sharpses,
how about the presidents family
and friends?"
Thereupon more figures were pro.
duced. During these twenty-one
months the total time spent on board
by any members Of the presidents
family or their guests was one week.
And the distance travelled while these
persons were aboard was 410 miles.
But the expense? The eggs and
bacon for breakfast? The potatoes?
The tripe? The marcaroni? The
boiled beets? The canned succotash