The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-09-24

cd individuals. 1t is a powerful and
thoroughly representative organization.
Recognizing this, the Territory of Ha.
wall was this year represented at the
meeting Of the congress held at Spo-
kane by q delegation of six members
The aim of the delegation was to press
the claims of Hawaii and to secuSe the
endorsement by the congress Of the
project to extend the Reclamation Act
to this Territory. In this quest we
were successful. The resolutions adopt
ed by the Seventeenth National Irriga-
ton Congress contain among other rec.
concentrations this clause: "We urge
the Congress of the United States to
extend the Reclamation Act to the Ter
fitory OF Hawai-"
Similar favorable action was also
secured at'the First National Conserve
ton Congress, held at Seattle, August
a6 70 rs, whefe one of the resolutions
adopted was in favor Of this project.
One other point gained may also be
noted in this connection. Largely
through the active interest and infiu.
enee Of Mr.. T. II. Novel;, representa-.
tives Of Hawaii were given an oppor.
tunity in Seattle to appear before the
Senate Committee on Arid Lands, then
en- route on tour Of the West to in.
vestigate various reclamation projects.
It 10 before this committee that the
| bill to extend the Reclamation Act TO
Hawaii, introduced Mt the last session
Of Congress by Prince Kuhio 10 now
awaiting consideration. The commit
tee listened with apparent interes, 90
1 a - ~ NJ -
Hawaii 3 contention, following which
briefs were filed giving the arguments
at greater length.
These are all steps in the right al.
reetion and properly followed up should
be Of no small help in bring about
the desired result. But II lie only the
beginning. To be successful tho cam.
paign must be increasingly winged until
| the object Hawaii desires is secured.
| One Of the reasons why we were sue.
cessful at Spokane and Seattle was
that we knew precisely what we want
| ed and went after that one thing. What
ia needed now is that the points gain.
ed 30 far be followed up. We have
law enabling the Territory to co.
operate with the Federal government
by beginning study of the local prob
lens. Water experts are already on
the ground. Other experts are on their
way here to ascertain the exact situa.
ton and need in the way of maps.
What is wanted now il a better under.
standing by the general public of the
reason for these investigations and the
end toward which they lead. 1t can
not too often be said that the final
goal--the essential purpose of all con
servation work, here or on the main
land is the making possible of more
| American homes. An enlightened pub
lie. sentiment helps tremendously in
backing up such work and keeping il
going. Much local interest already ex.
lists. This interest will increase when
the people know more about what is
intended and what is being done. The
diffusion Of such information is pecu
liarly the duty Of such an organization
as this. The members of the Hawai-
Branch of the Woman s National Riy
ers and IIarbors Congress can do NJ
more useful work than by posting them
selves accurately on this subject AM
then passing the word along.
Over in the Pacific Northwest one 81
the best Of the many local catcl
phrases is, think, that of Wall;
Walla: "What Walla Walla wants II
YOU" What Hawaii needs is that W,
all get together and work to brinl
about such n condition Of things thai
we can stand on an even footing Will
our friends on the mainland and BIZ
able to offer to prospective settlers an
equally good, If not better chance
In Hawaii Dei, Unfortunately we ear
not do that now. Economic conditions
here are not yet ripe for the immediate
influx of n large number of Amerear
settlers. Bat through the intelligent
consistent and continued application oi
hs principles of conservation, baeket
MS by AN ever increasing public sent
meni, Hawaii may one day hope TO BIZ
equipped adequately to- play lhe par
that nnqnesiio nably waits for her h
the great world drama OF the develop
manl Of The Pacific,