Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-05-25
A. P. TAYLOR SAYS
WAR WAS SHOCK TO
MAINLAND PEOPLE
Took Some Time for Serious
Facts Of National Needs to
Sink Home

rervent enthusiasm for President
Wilson's attitude when diplomatic re-
! latinnR with Germany were broken
| changed 10 a stunned yet very patti
otIc feeling in the big cities, when
war vas actually declared, says A. r
Taylor, the Promotion Committee sec
rytary, who recently returned from
the mainland
Every body appeared to want an
early declaration Of war" says Tay
Tor, but when war was a fact, and the
President called upon Congress TOT
billions In money, and q revision OF
all revenue measures to pay for the
super-extraordinAry expenses OF the
war, the people began to get their
minds down to q serious considera'
ton Of what It all meant to them
personally.
Personal Service Demanded
1t became apparent, as the high cost
Of living began to assume serious alti'
tudes; salaries doomed to cuts; num-
bers Of employees cut down, and fam
lily dependents TO increase, that there
were other phases Of war to be con-
stdered other than just merely shout
ing Fourth of July platftudes and pin
ming flag eInblems on coat lapels. 1t
did not tahe very long for the AmerI'
can public, Judging the nation by the
example set by the inhabitants OF
two or three o, the largest cities in
the Middle West, to reach the con.
clusion tilat the President was de-
mandins personal service.
The volunteer system was very
much q failure. Chicago early found
that out, for even q very popular ILL
nois regiment could not I'LL out its
war strength for weeks. Recruiting
officers used every means possible,
even devices OF the stage, to bring
men into their ranks.
Navy Gets Along Well
The navy got along very well. Tor
II seemed apparent this arm of the
service might soon, and very soon,
get into the magic war zone. The
marine corps, for the same reason,
filled out fairly we'll. I saw some de-
OF bluejackets, fresh from
tho training station, march through
the streets TO entrain for eastern
points, and they were a fine looking
lot OF young men.
The army did not fare 90 we'll, for
the people could not figure out that
the soldiers would see active duty |
at all.
Censorship 10 Tight
Meanwhile, came press reports Of |
in the Pacific, and absurd |
As such runors were. and are, yet |
they had their effect on the travelling |
public, for 1t is only natural that the |
inhabitants Of that section would |
nave only an imperfect knowledge OF |
he geography Of the Pacific and con-
iitions here. The news censorship |
must have been very. tight out here,
'or very little news about Hawaii, it's !
and the loyalty Of the |
people here got into the Eastern pa
)ers. These sub stories certainly did
Is much harm.
81 was kept busy denying them in
he press and in talks. The first pub
lie denial was made at Rotary Club |
annual meeting at night in Chicago
me Of the most patriotic meetings ]
,ver atteaded-and where I was asked |
10 extend my talk 10 minutes to tell
hem more about the islands tn war
Tine.
Naturally, travel began to fall off,
and when left Chicago l. was under.
stood that for good reasons train units
would be. reduced. Transients hurried
lomeward to be near their office
lesks and stock tickers, and the ho-
.el registers showed falling off in
-,
There was the usual hysteria about
from patriotic music and
arrests Of people for not standing
when the national anthem was played,
md even when America was played.
Town to opera bouffe; arrests Of sup
posed spies, and. native-born Ameri-
;ans with foreign, names had dozens
If pairs iot eyes focused upon them,
Ind their lives made miserable.
Hawaii / found we'll advertised and
we'll regarded by railroad and steam
ship men a. q tourist resort Of fine
and even with war on
.hese men look for good business to
develop for the islands next fall and