Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-11
HAWAII UNITING TO PROTECT HER WELFARE

III Is not IL question OF huge pf0lilS, HOJ Il
question of high prices Of sugar to the consumer.
The sugar industry Of this territory will fall if
the tariff falls-and there will be no reduction
in the price of refined suglr. The sugar trust,
taking its toll as the raw sugar passes through
its hands on the way to the consumer, will get.
tho benefit.
These are self-eyident facts to the people of
Hawaii, for the people of Hawaii know the con
ditions from firsthand observation. But they
are not sclfevident facts to the people of the
lnainland, not unanswerable arguments by
themselves = to the congress that is now prepar
ing to revise the general tariff schedules.
Tire Star Bulletin has urged for many weeks
that the businessmen of the islands unite in a
systematic campaign to bring before congress the
truth and the whole truth concerning Hawaifs
absolute dependence on the sugar duties Only
by such campaign can congressman get an in
telligent grasp on the subject. Only by such a
campaign can the clouds of msstatement of
false statement and understatement, created by
those who will benefit hugely by the removal of
the tariff, be driven away from the minds of the
representatives and senator's.
Former Cox. George II. Carter hit the nail
sguarely on the head when he said to the direct
ors OF the Merchants Association, yesterday aft
ernocn:
q can go to Washington and talk my arm off
and cannot make as much impression as some
personal friend. of senator whom he has conf
dence in, could make with letter. Find the
channel which will be most effective to reach
these men,"
This is no time for apathy, for ever-confidence
in the existence of an invisible power to safe
guard Hawaii, for no such power exists. The
safeguard for Hawaii now is the energy the ag-
gressiveness the intelligence of her people in de-
claring for the protection of their homes their
business and their future welfare.
1t must be realized at the outset that this
( fight is to be waged and won ON facts. Hawaii
must place before congress the facts on raw
sugar production-the facts as touched upon
by Mr.. Carter yesterday, that sugar has been the
only commodity in general use whose price has
dropped instead of rising for the last twenty
years. The relations of the sugar trust and the
tariff attack must be made plain,
And how to do it? lsat
Primarily, this is a fight of individuals, or
ganized into a campaign for their individual
homes and individual businesses, every one of
which viii suffer from a slash in the sugar
schedule.
And every individual here should consider
himself committee of one to write to con-
gressman-friend on the mainland, to a business
associate TO a client or personal friend, setting
forth the facts.
1T is a fight to be waged not by lobbyists in
secret but by citizens fighting in the open for
their intimate prosperity. And for this reason
former Governor Carter is the man of the hour
for Hawaii. Those who know Carter know that
when he goes to Washington it will be not as Il
Representative of planters, merchants or any par
firuar business interests, but as representative
OF the people of Hawaii, and in their name he
will make his fight And he will make it
sIlrewdIy and well.
The people Of Hawaii have been asking for
action for many months. The large business in
tert4ls were slow to respond 1t has now come
10 the point where the seriousness of the situa-
zion II generally understood and the people
themselves are going to the front.
And how about the Democrats?
gItis Ii Democratic national administration
III Is u "B0urbon year" The Democrats in Ha-
Naii ar esming To strength
What are the Democrats of Hawaii going to
do for tic protection Of Hawaii, In the nation
al congress there are sitting Democrats from ev-
cry part 81 the country. Certainly the organ
gafioB and prominent members of the party here
capD0t do less than come to the front also for
tiae industry that makes this territory possible