The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-01-25
SCIENTISTS MAY
COME IN 1911
Professor Griffiths Believes That
Large Convention May Be
Had.

A. F. Grifiths is in favor of trying
to bring a great scientific convention
here in 1911 or 1919. He believes that
were the people Of Hawaii to take the
matter up in earnest they could induce
the American, British and Australasian
scientific societies to come here during
the summer months.
Professor Grifiiths made a deter
mined effort to bring the 1910 conven-
tion of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science to Ha.
wall, but was unable to do so owing
to the transportation problem. He
found that there was strong senti-
ment in favor of Hawaii, however,
and ventures the suggestion that this
Territory might well take action to Sc
cure convention at later date.
The acting secretary of the promo.
tion committee has Just received the
following letter from Professor Grit
fiths:
81 attended the meeting of the
American Association for the Advance.
ment of Science in Boston on W ednes.
day and had conference with DIR.
l.. o. Howard, the secretary. AS
wrote you, 1 have had no information
from the Hawaii committee for some
time as to the status of the proposition
to bring the association to Hawaii in
1910.
"Doctor Howard said that Governor
Carter for the committee had written
him that the best proposition that
could be secured now was deposit
now of $4,000 in order to insure a
steamer in the summer, and had SO
stated the transportation difficulties as
practically to admit that it was going
to be impossible to have the conven.
ton in Hawaii next summer. Doctor
Howard further said, however, that q
representative of the Matson Naviga
ton Company, and one of some t.ans
continental railroad, the Name OF
neither of whom could he remember
had asked for the privilege of submit
ting rates.
81 wanted to cable to see if these
propositions could not be secured il
some definite form, but Doctor Howard
said that he believed 1t would be use
less to try to do this before the meet
ing of the council the next day a
which the decision would be made
both from the shortness of the tim,
and, more particularly, from the fac
that, although there had been no Off
cial announcement, it was pretty gen
orally understood that the meeting
would not be held in Hawaii. In othe
words it was dying fire ana Their,
WASH t time to- clear away the ember
and build anew.
"He invited me, however, TO appea
before the council to state Hawaii
case. / went in to Boston again tn
next day and spoke before the coun
ell. 1 explained the peculiar local sit
uation in regard to transportation be
tween Honolulu and the Coast and ex
pressed the hope that by the increas
in boats on the local run and possibl,
by the suspension of the coastwis
shipping law which was now bein,
quite generally urged sufficient relic
could be secured not only to reliev
present congestion in passenger tfaffi
but also to assist in the transportation
of the members of the A. A. A. S
who would come TO Hawaii to con
vention to be held in 1911 or 1912.
expressed Hawaii's deep regrets "a
not being able to carry out the plan
for the convention in 1910 and ex
planned that we did not withdraw tn
Invitation but simply asked for a Int
tie more time in which to overcom
the difficulties of our insular situation
"Afterward / was able to talk wit
Doctor Chamberlain, last years presi
dent, and Doctor Jordan, this year.
president and Professor Peabody an
Others in regard to TIE convention
There is some consolation even IN GU
failure. Nineteen hundred and ten uu
doubtedly would have been a bad yea
Many of the affiliated societies an
regular departments in which ther
are international organizations will b
interested in meeting which are to b
held in Europe next summer. Man
members who would be just the one
who would probably go to Hawaii will
attend these. President Jorcan an
Doctor Chamberlain for in lance bot
said that they wolld have to 90 t
meetings in Eur ope ir 1910. The re
cent meeting of the British associa
tion in Winnipeg would have prevent
ed the attendance of those members o
this association upon whom we coul,
reasonably count.
81 have this suggestion. Why no
plan for joint triple meeting, say il
1911 or 1919, of the American asso
citation, the British associa ton an,
the Australasian association This in
wolves good deal, especially after on
failure TO provide for meeting of on
of these associations, but IL we cal
make satisfactory arrangements TO
the American association members VIII,
would naturally be the most numerous
II would not take much more TO ear
for the members from the other two
Honolulu Is tho natural place for sucl
a joint meeting. Such a plan woul,
have 10 be moet carefully made nm,
made, too long time in advance. i
1911 IL not time enough, make TN
meeting come IN lDl2.V