Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-10

morning by scores of businessmen an
with an Endorsement that Is not less tn
The movement, suggested first at an
informal discussion in the Commercial
Club yesterday at noon, after a meet
ing OF the board ,of governors, had
progressed so far today that the sery-
ices of an attorney to Graft the pre-
amble to the petition are to be Sc
cs1Ted this afternoon.
In brief, prominent citizens of the
territory, loyal citizens of the United
States. are asking. that congress. If the
tariff on sugar Is removed and the
commercial life Of the islands
wrecked, should allow Hawaii once
more to become republic and as
such to enact its own customs law,
handle its customs duty. secure labor
where it may in order to compete with
the foreign sugar-producing countries,
End otherwise avert the overwhelming
blow to all industry in the islands.
At the informal meeting OF Com
Inercial Club members yesterday were
y. l.. Waldron, T. NJ Church, A. j..
Gignoux, former president of the Mer-
chants Association, c. G.. Bockus, Ed
Towse and others, The discussion of
fhe tariff situation brought the sug-
gestion from G. G. Borkus that 1t is
lime for Hawaii to declare to congress
the danger and the seriousness Of the
fee trade 1epfsIafsnn He suggested
also. that Hawaii should petition con
PRESS to allow the Islands to resume
their senarate republican form Of gov
ernment In case eonRFess insists on
wfecking the sugar industry and COM
r'erce here Ia general is dragged
down.
The preamble to the petition will
recite. according to present plans that
Hawaii will guarantee the Iruited
States permanent possession OF its.
present military pests and defense
points. will guarantee not to turn to
any other nation for aid or support:
that Hawaii will preserve the sanctity
of the American flag here to the time
when congress shall recognize tho
right of this country to protection OF
induetry and will not force Hawaii tn
compete in sugar production with
countries where cheap labor can be
secured and with other advantages
over this country.
The fact will be recited that Hawaii
has to paw $40 ton to shin sugar tn
the mainland and must have protnc
fien. Emphasis viii he laid on fhc
destruction and chaos that will be vis,
tied uDoH Hawaii with the removal OF
the sugar tariff.
Ex-Governor George r, carter. whr
will go to Washington within faw
dAvs representing the people of Ha-
waii i'd this tariff fight. declared this
mornine that the fact that such a ne
tition Is even considered shows the
seriousness of the situation.
THAT responsible businessmen Of
the territory should even consider q
suggestion shows how this territory
is trembling ar the thought of what
Congress- may do to us." he said, when.
in comnanv with several ohter WE'LL
known businessmen, the play was laid
before him.
"It is not any disloyalty that nrompts
such a course. but deep feeling tha,
the tariff revisienists are preparing
TO visit a territory-wide calamity up-
on us" he commented. "It is a feel
ing that we cannot exist If our indus.
tries are wrecked as they will be
The suggestion met with no open
opposition this morning, when men
who were at the Commercial club
meeting yesterday discussed it with