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

Il
lem of giving to the thousands of soldiers o
Oahu something more in the way of wholesom
Entertainment and recreation than is nov
available. 49," -.
Various plans are suggested. One is that al
army Y. NJ. G. A. be established at Schofel
Barracks; another that public dance-han
started in Honolulu under strict supervision
another that bathing pavilion be constructe,
at Waikiki.
AT the beginning the members of the Boart
Eof Retail Trades, who discussed the question
yesterday, confront the problem of lack o
funds. 1t is estimated that about $4,000 yea
for three years would be required to launcl
the army Y. NJ. c. A. project. For other pro
iects as much or more might be needed
The money that is paid from public fund
as the price for maintenance of the city's "red
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 severa
foot-policemen almost constantly, and on one
night in the week, Monday, most of the detec
tive squad are detailed to visit the houses oil
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
mo- into II, aho 10 70 iloi
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
fed 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. So
Another institution whose apologists say is
necessary ION account of the soldiers" is the
saloon.
The cost of the saloon to the community is
larger than the cost of the vice-district. More
money is spent from the public funds to main
tain the saloon than in the instance of Iwilei.
More money for policing the city, for trying
to prevent crime and disorder, for Furnishing
crime and disorder fomented and encouraged
by the booze business /.
And yet the soldiers on Oahu are not salts
led with the amusement and entertainment of
The saloon. 1t is inadequate
The truth is that neither vice district nor
string of saloons down the street meets the
needs of the average quareshcaIdered, clear
Eyed, vigorous. young American soldier of the
army on Oahu. He desires, and he is entitled
20, an opportunity for more wholesome and
better things Yet the opportunities for whole
some recreation in Honolulu are so scant that
many a soldier feels 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 grave problem
or the police and public officials, but it is
listing undeserved condemnation on the thou
sands of soldiers who want something better
and cleaner r.: iii ....-.t -. n
And, most of all, Honolulu is delaying the
time when something better will be furnished.
The proposal by the president of the Homo
lulu 7. M. c. A. that a trained man should in
vestigate the situation and discover by talks
with the officers and soldiers, what their social
needs really are, will be given the careful con
sideration by the retail merchants which it
should be given. The Chamber of Commerce,
it would seem, could we'll afford to assist in
making such an investigation possible.