The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-09-26
Great Enthusiasm Prevails When
General Johnson Tells Of De-
velopment Of Militia
LAST BUSINESS SESSION
IN HlLo IS MoMENToUS
Territorial Bonds Are Laid On Ia
bic, With Roads Recon-
mended For Tourists
tupecial by Mutual Wireless,

hs.. tSpcCt.I By MUTUAL WTeleSS.D
HH.O. September 23---At the closing
hnsincss session If the Fifth Civic
Convention today tremendous enthusi
asn r'as shown in regard 10 Hawaii :
magni ficent national guard OrganiZa
tion, and with ringing patriotism the
convention speakers pledged the sup
port of the Territory toward making
adequate provision for the citizen sold,
iers. General discussion followed the
reading of Brig. Gen. SamGff l. John.
eon 3 address on the national guard.
There was not one dissenting voice
raised in opposition to his appeal.
Last Word Is With People
General johnson said that the "last
word regarding the National Guard of
Hawaii is with the people of the Ter
fitory. With their support, through
their Representatives in the Legislature,
the guard planned by Governor Pink
ham and approved by the secretary Of
war can be kept up Without local
support add general appropriations the
cuard cannot be kept at its present
strength nor can II become the efficient
Organization that is the aim Of all con.
nected with it, .-4
Delegates representing the planta.
ton districts Of Kauai, Maui and Ha-
waii said that the "experiment" Of q
year ago had proved a splendid in
fluenee for civic betterment wherever
militia companies had been formed.
The Improvement in community spirit
in the last twelve months has been
noteworthy, all now. testify. The in
fiuenee has been more than purely mil
itary because new standards are being
established. The Guard does not en-
list men or aPpoiut officers unless they
ere physically, mentally and morally
the peer of the best citizens in the com
munity.
Moral BENEFIT Noteworthy
The moral benefit of military train
ing has outweighed all monetary con
alterations. The plantation men said
that from one end Of Hawaii to the
other they were willing TO back up the
national guard TO the full extent. The
organikntion has made good, from the
plantation standpoint. The speakers
said that General johnson spoke the
exact truth when he said that the ma
tional guard was u distinct gain from
a business as well as from an ethical
standpoint, ...
Military training has already shown
q beneficial effect on plantation labor.
II has, created q distinct interest among
the men, and Joined them together in
many ways. This spirit of improve.
ment and cooperation should increase
as time goes on, and as the companies
have more time to go in for sports
and amusements in addition to their
military work.
Helegatss Emphasize Value
The promotion value of Hawaii 3
guard was emphasized by some Of the
sneakers, and one and all upheld the
,ounniZatiOn from the purely patriotic
standpoint of preparedness. Hawaii as
an integral part of the United States
stands ready 70 do its share in the de-
Tense of American liberties and the
ideals Of independent democracy.
Convention Opposes Bonds
The bonding proposition, or the ques.
tion of whether the civic convention is
for or against the,issuanee of bonds for
public improvements was more hotly
uCDANCu ludH uHN OlutT htl III
tions brought to its attention. The
delegates from Oahu were sohd in their
opposition TO the proposed borrowing
Of money for permanent improvements.
In this they followed the opinion
voiced by the majority of the chamber
of commerce of Honolulu that with the
Territory now in more prosperous
condition than il has ever been before,
this procedure would be entirely un.
necessary.
The resolutions which had been pre-
scented favoring the borrowing of furth-
er loan funds for general road con.
struction were defeated by an over.
whelming vote. The opinion was also
plainly voiced that other permanent i'm
provements including county buildings,
school houses, waterwOrks and wharv.
es should be paid for out of the gen
eral revenues. More economical expen.
ditnre Of public funds was recommend,
ed rs a prerequisite to increased, ex.
penditnres. -
For Tourist Roads Only
The convention voted in favor of an
alternative proposition to borrow mon,
ey on territorial bonds for the con
atTuetion of roads TO the principle
scenic attractions on each of the Isl
snds This scheme, if approved by
the next Legislature, will provide funds
with which TO build a modern road
system 10 tap the entire Kilauea Ma,
fiopal Park and surrounding regions.
Az automobile road to the top OF
Haleakala and one leading to the mag.
niheent scenic wonders Of Waimea cih,
Won, on Kauai, with concrete highways
from Hilo TO Kilanea. would return big
fividands from increased tourist traf.
AZ which will benefit the entire Ter
Tifory, H. was stated.
The usual rup Of road construction
hefWeen local points on each of the
IdaDds was declared TO be Il line of
pnbhe work in which tie particular 10.
calities and districts are mainly inter,
ested. n.
Hence the cost or construction cf
local roads should he borne by the
Communities they chiefly serve II