Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-13
BUSINESSMEN GATHER
DETERMINED To FIGHT
FOR HAWAII INDUSTRIES

Honolulu businessmen came to-
sether in representative force yester-
Gay afternoon in RESPONSE to a call of
the Chamber of 'Commerce and the
Merchants Association. for q Joint
conference to consider the Quest on It
sending former Governor George +.
Carter to Washington tn work against
the removal of the protection TO sugar.
as we'll as the matter Of condu"t1n9 y
local campaien of publicity to the
same end. The meeting was held III
the, assembly room of the Chamber
of Commerce, which was filed at the
opening hour with members Of hntn
bodies. Much enthusiasm prevailed.
being stimulated by series of point
ed addresses. -. -.
After the general meeting the PRE-
siding officers appointed the follow
ing committees, as ordered by the
meeting: 1 e,
Executive CommittealzE FIX Governor
Georga R. Carter. w. n. Babbitt Fnl
j. P. Cooke, representing the Cha'n'.er
II Commerce: t.. E. Berndt. Ed Tovse
end F. l.. Waldron. representing the
Merchants Association.
Legislative Committee - F. M.
Hatch. Frank E. Thompson and John
Effinger.
Although the sending Of Mr.. Carter
to Washing on was the original ques-
ton that led to the conference. this
was referred to only incidentally IN
the speeches. Mr.. Carter EXPRESSED
his willingness to go if finally request
ed. but he placed more importance on
having active work rushed at home
in the way of enIisting support for
the cause in Washington, through let
tiers of information to- public D'en
there and to people throughout the
country having influence with their
representatives in the national 1egis-
lature Other speakers seemed 10
take for granted, however, that Mr
Carter should conduct the campaign in
person at the WASHINGTON end. ~
Vice-President Frank G. Atherton OF
the chamber of commerce presided,
with President Oliver c. Swain OF the
merchants association on the right.
Carter Talks to the Point
Mr.. Carter spoke of large business
houses here leaving the matter OF the
sugar tariff in the hands of Mr.. Dear
born on the, Coast, who already has
done everything he could in the inter
est of the Hawaiian sugar industry OF
his own yolition The speaker ad-
mitted he himself had let splendid
opportunities pass, an instance OF
which was his entertaining lately a
former private secretary of President
Wilson without saying word to him
on the sugar tariff. A men left Homo
lulu lately who had been owner of one
of the largest newspapers in New
York, and who stated on leaving that
nobody had discussed the tariff with
him during his visit. T.. =. =
Have we earned the right to be
batted on the back in Washington"
Mr. Carter asked. Some said we
should not scatter our ammunition
everywhere. l don't care how much
ammunition is wasted if one shot
takes effect" he was applauded in
saying The case in the house was
closed, it being stated that the action
of the former session would be repeat
ed there by the Democrats, but tho
senate did not do business that way.
BY changing one vote in the senate,
sugar might be eliminated from the
tariff reduction policy. One of their
main objects was to stimulate their
friends in Washington. He had been
informed that the two senators from
each of the states of Washington and
Colorado were on opposite sides with
regard to free sugar. The speaker
was not aware that any attempt had
been made to influence the senators
from those states. .z<
Outlines Arguments eFs -.
Mr.. Carter then outlined some
arguments that might be used in the
campaign. Sugar, he said, had in
creased less in price than any other
commodity That millions bad been
made from sugar in Hawaii was not
an argument for removal Of protection
from sugar, any more than such an
argument would Apply to many of the
leading industries on the mainland.
Certainly the fact that money was
made on sugar here was no reason
why they should sit down and do
nothing. There was nothing of which
they had to be ashamed
There is possibility of winning
from this end" said the speaker,
(which would be better than winning
81" THonfin4ed an P-na a.