The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-04-13
HAWANANS CALL
ON PRESIDENT

An interesting account of call
which Delegate Kalanianaole, John
Baker and other prominent Hawaiians
paid ON President Taft. AS well as n
description of the inauguration ceremo-
MES, rs contained in a letter written
by Jack Desha. who is now studying
at Harvard to his father, Supervisor
Stephen Desha. Extracts from the let
ter, which is dated Washington, March
!. follow:
81 arrived at Washington three
hours late. John Aimoku was waiting
for me at the wrong entrance to the
depot, So that | missed him. 1t was
raining heavily in Washington when
/ | arrived. / did not have much
trouble in finding the Princes resi-
dence. ] was surprised to find Colonel
Parker, John Baker and Jim Parker
there. Princess Kalanianaole received
me very graciously. The Prince was
not in, as he was waiting Mt the depot
for the Princess Kawananakoa. The
Prince arrived not long afterwards
with the Princess. 1t was a jolly re.
|
Clellan dropped in later.
"After supper we went to see the
Senate and House adjourn We were
too late to see the House, but we were
just in time to hear Vice President
Fairbanks deliver his farewell address
to the Senate. 1t was an exceedingly
fine speech. Then we took in the
sights at the Capitol, met number
of Congressman and other notables.
After light supper We returned
home.
"The next day, Inauguration Day,
we were somewhat excited before go
ing down to the Capitol. By the way
|, forgot to mention that while visit
, ing the Capitol the evening before, We
had some funny experiences. We were
all trailing behind the Prince just like
sheep The Prince first. then Colonel
Parker, then myself, Jim Parker and
John Baker in the rear. 1t was funny
} to see John Baker gaze around at diff
, ferent things. The contrast between
, him and Sam Parker was amusing
, John was quiet and Sam was noisy
Once when we were waiting to take
an elevator to an upper floor, John
took one that was going down. Al
, soon as he found out his mistake, ht
became rather spry. We could moi
> help but laugh. The evening was full
l of funny experiences.
"Well, must continue my account
t of Inauguration Day. Jim Parker an'
3 / were down at the Capitol at abou
], eleYen o'clock. Aimoku went TO ge
Q Miss Sarah Lyman. We did not SCI
? each other for the rest of the day. i
was showing terribly, and very cold
The streets were wet and slushy. Still
s there was a large crowd along the lin'
0 of march and in front of the Capitol
: President Taft took his oath of Office
1 and delivered his inaugural address il
}. the Senate Chamber. OF course, W.
3 were unable to see this part of the pro
a gram. We saw the President and hi
i wife, however, who came out upon TIN
!. reviewing stand, thence into their ear
I riage, and drove off to the parade. Thu
q parade was exceedingly long. We sto0'
q on one spot for about three hours be
l fore the parade was all through. Their
r was very little delay. In the evening
we visited the fireworks display. !
q was simply grand. 1t was estimate
h that the whole thing cost about $4,000
h Then we went down town and had
n merry time ON the streets.
v saturday morning the Prince too
Mr.. Soper, Mr.. Desky, John Bake
> John Aimoku, and myself to meet Pres
ident Taft. 1t was about two hour
before we were able to meet the Pres
ident and his wife on account of tn
;, great crowds. While waiting sewers
people mistook us for Indians. job
Baker was called Big Chief; some ask
ed him from what tribe he came, an
, some Indians who were in the roor
d shook hands with him. Mr.. Desky wa
very laxative, using whatever Ha
! waiian word that came into his mine
sometimes words which were not be
u coming to polite society. Mr.. Parke
u and Jim had gone to New York, so the
V were not with u.s. President Taft
very nice.
IL Sin the afternoon Aimoku and
u visited Mount Vernon, Washington
T. birthplace; saw the house, the room j
o which he died, and his coach. The tri
D. up and down there was fine. Afte
supper the Prince, Princess, John Bake
Aimoku, and visited the Congressiont
Library. 1t is grand building; fin
y work within, on the floors, walls an
10 ceilings. We then visited the Prince
n Office. 1T is very nicely and comfort
q ably fixed up The Office is in a larg
It building where all the Representative
j. have offices. The Senators have thei
IS own building. | am leaving this after
o noon for Boston. This is the hest wee
. have had since coming to America.
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l.. II,