The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-09
NORTH SIDE NE VS.
"Japs Will Govern Hawaiian
Islands i'm Few Years"
Outnumber Whites Seven to
One, Says Visitor.
KANSAS REPRESENTED
In Flower Parade at Honolulu
on WashingtOn's Birthday.
Wife of twentieth Kansas" Boy
Describes "Kanaka Land"

present the japanese nave NOT the
franchise There are none of the age
mentioned who have been born on the
islands since their annexation. but wait.
That race now outnumbers the Amer1-
cans seven to one-and when they get
political power they will elect all or
their own people to Offices"
These statements were made this
morning by Mrs. J. w Kershner OF
Honolulu, Hawaiian islands. former
Atchison girl, who is visiting at the
home of her sister-in-law, Mrs George
Bigum of 1914 Monroe street Mr..
Kershner is a former Topeka boy. He
was also one of the Twentieth Kan
sans. He was married in Topeka to
Miss Ada Beattie about five years ago.
They went to Los Angeles and from
there to Honolulu. There Mr.. kersh-
ner owns the only automohile-tire vul-
canizing plant in the islands.
Live Opposite Queen Gill;
Their home is just across the street
from the residence of Queen Lilo
kalauni, who is now in Washington,
asking for $250,000, which she thinks
is due her from the United States gov
eminent in payment of lands taken
from her at the time of the annexation
of her country. This woman, Mrs.
Kershner describes as "a homely wom
an of II, but of personality so pleas
ing and a voice SO musical and persua-
sive that she could make a person
think that the moon was made of
green cheese or Topekais city water
was good to drink" She also tells of
the natives or 'sKanakas, who are fond
Eof flowers, music and gin; are conSti-
tutionally opposed to work and live on
the proceeds of the mortgages of the
lands allotted to them by the govern
ment. She also speaks of the cosmo-
politanism Of Honolulu, where all
races of the world are to be scenes
pecially the japanese.
Jolts the Japs
''That Oriental race" continued Mrs.
Kershner, in speaking of the Flowery
kingdom people. ''They are good ser
wants; in fact. the only servants on
the islands, but it is hard not to despise
them. They are SO tricky, sharp as a
whip but pretend to be dumb. They
will often pretend they do not under
stand a word you say or realize the
significance of any happening but I
think do not miss much.
They are great to steal, and yet so
polite that it is difficult for a new
conner to believe that they are guilty
of theft. They are paid about 81 a
week as servants.
become proficient. For instance, many
of them have offered to work for moth
ing in Mr.. Kershner's shop. just to
learn the trade. But 1t is dangerous
to teach them a trade, as they are
liable to set up in the same line as
soon as their apprenticeship is fin
ished and do work for so little that a
white man couldn't compete.
MY husband has always told them
when they asked for work that if they
would give him $4,000 he would teach
them the trade; and one of them actu-
ally raised $1,000 for the purpose and
offered the money in payment for his
apprenticeship. However, Mr.. Kersh-
ner raised his price
"And the money they do earn is
spent among themselves or is sent to
Japan. Just before a steamer sails
for Japan the people of that country
form so long a line in front of the
money order windows that it takes
money order department.
"Kanakas' Drink Square Face"
Natives, or 'Kanakas,' are employed
to a large extent-when they will
work. And they will not as long as
they can get money by mortgaging
| their 'kiiliani,' or homesteads. These
were allotted to each native by the
United States when the islands were
annexed. When the 'Kanake' gets hard
up he mortgages his home and then
| lives an idle, life, just sings, wears
flowers and drinks.
What is their favorite drink? Gin
| or 'squareface' they call it. Why? l
don't know, but perhaps because the
| liquor originally came to them in
square bottles. For the sake of this
| drink they Will Serenade the Americans
! Christmas as early as o'clock in the
morning. Their songs are beautiful.
AS you may know, their history is all
written in songs or 'hulas.' They are
we'll liked. the natives.
Homely But QueenIy.
This is especially true of Queen
Liliokalauni, or Queen Lii is excep-
| tionally musical. She is an elderly wo-
| man with hair just beginning to be
streaked with gray. She is very home
ly but her bearing is so queenly that
| she impresses you as a most majestic
woman. Besides her voice being so
soft and low, she is wonderfully per-
suasive. She could make you think
| that the moon was made of green
cheese. or that the Topeka hydrant wa
| ter was good to drink, or that Bryan
could be elected president.
| Her Honolulu residence is just
| across the street from our home. She
| lives a very quiet life, but holds court
on certain days. Then she receives the
people of the city. She is highly re-
spected and nearly every one in the city
| comes to shake hands with her on her
court days. Her 300 retainers, or ma
| tives whom she keeps at her house,
| treat er just the same as if she were
the n igning queen. She dresses simply
I, but tastefully.
Heathens at Heart.
However, the natives in general
| like bright colors. A gaudy yellow is
the national color The kanakes are
also much attached to their old beliefs.
Although they live civilized and profess
Christianity. when they die they want
| their medicine men or priests with
| them.
Deyour Dogs.
And at their feasts they continue to
eat the native poi and dogs This
animal, they claim, tastes just like a
cooked pig. They also make a great
talk about the dog being cleaner than
/ the pig.
Very often they tell that a certain
dish is pork when it is really dog
steak. One time Jack an employee IN
our shop, went to a native feast on a
| bicycle. He was there longer thar
usual. In explaining his delay he said
he rode a bicycle and led the pigs. The