Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-16


Washington, d. c.,
July 81. 1916.
Hon: Josephus Daniels,
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, D., c.:
Dear Mr.. Secretary: May / be
permitted. to suggest that one of
the new battleships or cruisers to
be constructed be named ''Ha-
waii?"
To my way OF thinking many
sound reasons exist why this
should be done, and regret much
that I cannot enumerate ALL of
them. and likewise that ! can 30
feebly express those which do oc-
cur to me- but. prompted, and I
hope, aided, by the great love
have for the land OF my birth.
shall endeavor to place before you
facts, and perhaps some senti-
ment, which ] trust shall be OF
sufficient importance. to AT least
justify careful consideration of
the proposal | have made.
Should there be war with
either an Asiatic or European
power, naval authorities all agree
that Hawaii would be of greatest
importance. Pearl Harbor has for
many years received considerable
attention by the navy department,
and understand that before a
great while viii have one of the
greatest navy yards in the coun-
try. and will probably be the loca-
ton OF the largest drydock. The
island of Oahu, where Honolulu
isolated, is strongly fortified and
WIZ soon be known, If not already
so, as the Gibraltar of the Pacific.
Indeed. need not enlarge on
our importance from a military
and naval standpoint, for 1t has
been the theme of many discus
sions In Congress, and the sub
jects Of countless reports of naval
officers. Suffice it to say that
should war occur the name "Ha-
wait would be quite as widely
known, as that of 'yerdun" to-
day.
Perhaps, too, the naming of one
OF these vessels after the terri
tory might, in some degree at
least. tend to impress the large
foreign population now resident
there with the idea that the fed
aral government is paving more
and more attention to the islands
and In this manner assist in that
Preparedness which works for
peace. While do not wish to be
understood as even intimatiRg
that in case Of difficulty this for
elgn element might join with the
enemy. yet things Ike the one
am suggesting sometimes have
very considerable moral effect.
These are the views of the facts
by q woman born III Hawaii. AS
to the facts. may perhaps in
some respects be Inaccurate, but
on the whole j believe them to be
as ! have set them forth. If ] am
correct ! think they are conyinc.
ing that 1t would be quite appro-
pirate TO have one of our large
vessels bear our name. And then,
too, Mr.. Secretary. we are a full
fledged territory, and no prece-
dents, as understand it.. would
be broken. And in this particular
the naming OF one of these yes
sells after our territory would be
recognition Of what our people
have long strenuonsly contended
. for. namely, that we are a terri
tory and not possession.
May be allowed for the mo-
ment to touch slightly on the
sentimental side Of the question.
in 1898 Hawaii was annexed to
the United States, largely by rea-
son Of its value from a naval
standpoint. Amongst the natives.
to whom the word Hawaii
meant everything, annexation was
not altogether popular, but as the
years have rolled by the Ameri-
can form OF government has come
20 be more fully understood, the
Hawaiian people have come to
recognize that annexation is a
blessing and not curse. That
recognition has borne fruit, for
venture to say that nowhere on
Continental United States can be
found q people more loyal to the
government than are the Ha-
waiians. In the event of diff
Guilty there would be no laggards.
The naming Of one of our yes
sells after the islands they loved
would be treated BY them as a
grateful recognition Of their 10y
atty; would be boosted of by