Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-20
Major General Commanding
Hawaiian Department Pleads
for Better Feeling Here

\ Enlisted men OF the arm! on Oahu
Go not want 10 be treated like sol
Oilers" but like human beings" Ho
rOlulu should not 90 On multiplying
institutions Of various kinds for the
exclusive use OF sOldiers-What the
men want is 10 be considered on their
own merits. and TO be allowed soma
measure OF participation IN the life
OF the community as men, not merely
as individual units Of the army
Such was the gist Of the plea made
to Honolulu last evening by Maj. gen.
| William Harding Carter, commanding
the Hawaiian Department. when he
| made a brief address at the Opera
House at the benefit given for the
General Library at Schofiefd Bar
| racks
In no other community, said Gen.
Carter, had he found a greater spirit
of mutual helHulness-no other Place
had he seen so much welfare work.
! Since my arrival here ! have been
visited by countless committees and
individuals" he said, eager to devise
| ways and means of increasing the
welfare of our soldiers. Honolulu IS
| idealistic and altruistic Never have
| | encountered an attempt to exploit
| the men.
Disiikes Patronage.
The average American soldier does
not like to be patronized. Taken as
q body they are the most generous
people on earth. according TO their
means. 1t is a difficult thing to, de-
wise ways and means Tor the enter
tainment or betterment of the condi-
lions Of SO large a garrison, if they
are to be treated as a thing apart
from the community. In the army, as
in every community, there are as
many minds as men. Our forebears
have placed upon the pages of History
the declaration that all men are born
free and equal.
Perhaps SO, but If that be true
then they diverge from this state Of
equality at the very hour of birth.
Environment and opportunity ssoon
lead men into most unequal lives.
Our army is comprised of men who
enter the service of their own yolition.
Only q small percentage of those who
volunteer pass the required physical
examination. Every effort IS made
TO, ascertain their previous character.
but with the wandering instinct Of tke
people of our country, indiViduaI rec
.oFds are rarely avGilable, Yet in the
ranks of the American army We, find
the same identical conditions that ex-
list in groupings of people In civil life.
Some are of superior mind; the next
and greater group constitute the. aver
age; the third rating includes all
those Of mediocre talents. Here are
found those whom environment and
lack Of opportunity have weakened.
ls Altogether Human. &c.,. -
I'm determining what is best to do
for the soldier, it must be remember
ed that he, is altogether human, as
well as a man selected for his physi-
cal perfection, and that he needs COM
pany; that when he comes to town
he wants to see the bright lights and
the people and he wants to be treated
like any other man. II he, conducts
himself like a gentleman. trsat him as
a gentleman. If he falls By. The way.
side, treat his as you do thoie under
like conditions in civil He, It is not
your charity he asks, but only oppor
tunity to amuse himself in a reason
eble way.
In a practical way, With some. &c.. |
900 soldiers in your midst it would be
we'll to consider the adyisability OF |
providing for their special henefit--a |
beach with dancing nayiliop and |
grounds where they could ,niaet each |
other, and other elements Of the nupu-
lation upon a common footing, Such |
an establishment should be regulated |
so as to absolutely bar Intoxicating
liquors. because a great proportion OF
our soldiers do not seek that form OF
diversion.
Beginning Of Library.
"Observing the larg patronage of
the moving picture shows established
at Schofield Barracks, | Concluded
that it would be we'll to afford the
men the use of a larger library than
any Of those hitherto suppQrted with
In the organization. ! wrote to many
Of my friends in the states and was
lstoniShed at the generosity Of their
of books. So rapidly. did
hey accumulate that | soon found We
IoN (lIou LD,'JOO' on lldS Il III
able building would be necessary 10
house them. We had no government
appropriation available. but felt
such a good cause would appeal to the
men themselves. Stone va; gather
I'd near Honolulu by the soldiers of
Fort Shafter and sent to their com
AIDES at Schofield Barracks, where a
handsome and convenient library
building has been erected. Upon the
shelves there are now 10000 books,
md nearly 200" more hove been dis
ributed TO the hospital and other
POSTS about Honolulu In constructing
his build ~ it was ne cesar: for me
. become sponsor !Or material 10
rlCvide the roof, floors and ceiling,
lPctriC lights. be !: shelving and Otn-
= items OF equipment. Tins WAS the
My eXpens" attached - ;he erection
this Library building, which IS now
OmpIete an will be dedicated on the
49,.