The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-03-08
WOMAN NATIONAL
RIVERS AND
HARBORS CONGRESS

HARBUR5 UUN6RE55
This last week has seen the begin
ming of movement among the women
of this Territory, which may yet touch
vitality its future, both in public ond
domestic life. The Woman's Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress
has made its first appeal through the
vice-president of this Territory, Mrs.
Augustus Knudsen, who spoke to a
large and representative gathering of
men and women, held under the aus
pieces of the College Club. Born of the
public spirit and enthusiasm reused by
her address, a society of over fifty
members has already been organized.
Now women are especially interested
in conservation, because it touches
most intimately the future of the chill
dren, not only in broadly commercial
and public ways, but also in their
personal attitude toward natural sur
roundings, concerning which a loving
care and responsibility is as vital a
root of patriotism as is a love of poll
tical Institutions; vital also to all
home-loving and thrifty peoples.
The woman's organization pledges
such help in education and stimulation
as women can best give, when the
solution of a public problem must rest
largely in the hands of coming gen.
Grafton. But membership is by no
means limited to women. Beside men
and women as individuals, clubs, cor
porations, etc, are invited to share in
this common work Mrs. Augustus
Knudsen, The Pleasanton, Honolulu,
will be glad to receive the names and
fees of any interested to forward to the
main society, which will acknowledge
the same and send receipt The money
is to be used to disseminate literature
on all phases of the conservation of
natural resources. Single membership
is 81 per year; corporations under five
hundred members is So; over So.
Mrs. Philip L. Weaver,
Chairman Publicity Committee.
PLATFORM.
The Woman's National Rivers and
Harbors Congress advocates a policy
and not a project.
1t will stand for broad and liberal
policy by the National Government for
the development of our inland water
ways and harbors and the extension of
our forests, as one problem. Rivers and
forests are interdependent. Nature has
indissolutely linked these two greatest
physical resources. Their improve
ment should be vigorously met, to-
gether, and at once"
We believe that our natural resources
should be conserved and developed in a
national way, and that such develop.
ment is only possible by national
agency, whose policy it would be to Sc
cure for the entire country, irrespective
of section, division or State, the great
est benefits at the least expense.
I We believe that the United States has
d
wanton waste and neglect of its ma
tural resources, that the people-every-
whereof all classes and conditions,
must pause and take counsel for the
best methods Of conservation, and that
immediate action is necessary to save
these basal factors of civilization.
We believe that it is the duty of the
governments, National and State, and
every individual, to cooperate in the
following out of some comprehensive
plan, outlined by experts and approved
by the national Government.
And we urge all who believe in this
policy to join with us in demand tC
the Federal Government for laws ant
appropriations for this great work
which when accomplished will place
our Nation in her rightful position
among the nations of the earth, anC
will secure to all future generations
lawful heritage of water, forests anC
soil.
To accomplish this necessary develop
ment of our nations waterways anC
harbors, we ask that the Federal Gov
eminent make an annual appropriation
of not less than $5O,OOO,OOO and tina
such other appropriation shall be an
nually made as shall provide adequatel!
for the extension Of our Nations for
ests