Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-10
FOR THE SOLDIERS.

| lem of giving to the thousands of soldiers OF
/ Oahu something more in the way of wholesome
entertainment and recreation than is now
available. :*@ -.
] Various plans are suggested. One is that al
army Y. NJ. c. A. be established at SchofielC
Barracks; another that public dance hall be
started in Honolulu under strict supervision
another that bathing pavilion be constructed
at Waikiki
At the beginning the members of the BOARD
| of Retail Trades, who discussed the question
yesterday, confront the problem of lack OF
funds. 1t is estimated that about $4,000 year
for three years would be required to launch
the army Y. NJ. G. A. project For other pro-
jects as much or more might be needed.
The money that is paid from public funds
as the price for maintenance of the city IS cred.
light district would more than finance any
one of these plans. This district is kept open
according to the police, because of the pres
ence of the soldiery on Oahu. 1t is constant
drain on public funds municipal, territorial
and federal 1t must be closely guarded. The
policing of the district takes the time of several
foot-polioemen almost constantly, and on one
night in the week, Monday, most of the detec-
tive squad are detailed to visit the houses of
ill-fame to conduct the purity census the
examination of the health certificates of all
inmates.
The crime which is bred at Iwilei costs the
city, the territory and the federal government
many thousands of dollars every year. The
expense of trials, and of jail and penitentiary
maintenance, are largely chargeable to Iwilei.
The degeneracy spread from vice district
is costing now and will cost in the future many
thousands of dollars-an expense most of
which is met from the public funds.
And yet the soldiers on Oahu are not salts
led with the amusement and entertainment of
Iwilei. Here is an institution conducted os-
tensibly for the benefit of the army popula-
ton, but it evidently is not adequate.
Another institution whose apologists say is
necessary ION account of the soldiers" is the
saloon
The cost of the saloon to the community is
oarger than the cost of the vice-district. More
money is spent from the public funds to main
ain the saloon than in the instance of Iwilei.
More money for policing the city, for trying
% prevent crime and disorder, for Furnishing
rhine and disorder fomented and encouraged
)y the booze business
And yet the soldiers on Oahu are not salts
led with the amusement and entertainment OF
he saloon. 1t is inadequate.
The truth is that neither vice-district nor
| string of saloons down the street meets the
needs of the average uare-shouldered, clear
Eyed, vigorous young American soldier of the
lrmy on Oahu. He desires, and he is entitled
o, an opportunity for more wholesome and
better things. Yet the opportunities for whole
some recreation in Honolulu are so scant that
many soldier feds that he is restricted to
he saloon or some worse place.
In tolerating these places on the theory that
hey are necessary for the soldier, Honolulu is
lot only burdening itself with a grave problem
or the police and public officials, but it is
listing undeserved condemnation on the thou
lands of soldiers who want something better
md cleaner. @...s
And, most of all, Honolulu is delaying the
ime when something better will be furnished.
The proposal by the president of the Homo
ulu Y. M. c. A. that trained man should in
:estigate the situation and discover, by talks
With the officers and soldiers, what their social
needs really are, will be given the careful con-
'ideration by the retail merchants which it
should be given. The Chamber of Commerce,
t would seem, could we'll afford to assist in
making such an investigation possible