Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-02
LOOKING At THE FACTS OF DEFENSE.

Governor .Pinklams special message to the egis
laturp yesterday must answered not merely by the
lawmakers but by the people of the territory.
Is Hawaii to have real halfrra National
Guard and Naval Militia?
Is Hawaii willing to spend the money necessary
10 make these organizations real?
Is Hawaii willing this money should be spent from
the revenues coming out of leasing public lands?
These, in substance are the questions the governor
puts up to the legislators at the close of series of
thought-provoking statements and statistical tables
We think that the general demand for large Ma
tonal GHardsas voiced in the past three years
proves that the people well aware of the neces
lsity of citizen army for defense purposes But
they awake to the fact that money be spent
with no niggardy hand to secure and support the
home organizations?
Turning to the method Of getting the mOney-that
lof land incOme-it is interesting to remember that
six years ago a Kauai senator, George Fairchild
proposed the leasing of lands for the purpose of pro
Iriding revenues Tor public schools. The proposal
was defeated. the main argument against it being
that Hawaii should not halt in it's hompsteading 20
Icy; Hawaii should continue to open lands to small
farmers not TO allow them to be held by large lease
holders,
This was six years ago when hOmeseading was il
the hopeful experimental stage Many abject fail
ures have been chronicled since then and few sue
cesses. .:.= ....
Governor Pinkham has reduced to figures thu
Homestead mortality it might be called - the
alarming extent to which homesteads pass into alieT
hands, the large number of failures.
| The arguments which held good years ago do moi
hold good today The homesteadng theories are moi
working out.
| Meanwhile there has come this new problem of ma
tional defense, in which Hawaii has and must have
a conspicuous part
7 1t is not necessary to add anything to the gov
errors statement on this point. His message i.
clear in emphasizing that Hawaii has got to do it,
share, and that this share will cost money.
The governor has definite proposals which he call'
upon the Legislature to consider. In principle VT
agree with his message. At some points it is Ob
scura and it bears the inferenta passages whicl
detract from the clarity of most of Governor Pink
hams state papers but its main thread Of purpOs,
is unmistakable. The Star Bulletin hears also tha
the governors plan has been approved in Washing
ton. which is strong argument for Endorsement b!
the legislature.
| There will. of course, rise an instant howl tina
the governor is hostile to the small farmer. that he
trying TO slip homestead control to the plantations
that he is dissipating public revenues. The mel
who chronically raise these hOws have not vet come
forward with any scheme of their own to finance thu
National Guard and the Naval Militia Hawaii ough
10 have. When they do bring forward such Il scheme
ii will be time to listen to them
The legislature should, however, s,rutinize care
fully the proposed expenditures. 1t is not onl!
proper but prudent for legislative committees t
know exactly how national guard funds are ben;
spent and to be spent Only through a competent
careful and authoritative auditing of the expense
of the territory for military purposes can the egisa
ure justify diverting very large fund for the mex
two years Having conducted such an audit am
proved that past expenditures have been well
handled, the legislators can properly authorize tn
handling of the funds in the future