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THE GARDEN ISLAND. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1)16.
I
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Issued Every Tuesday Morning
Luther De-rmont Timmons
Editor
TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 29
the Continental Army plan (which caused the retirement of Secretary
Garrison), federalization of the National Guard organization is the
only possible way ot obtaining a reserve army. Whether the Mates
and the Territory of Hawaii are ready to surrender their control of
the militia is a question not to be answered offhand; but when the
country comes to understand that it is a case of either this or the ex
penditure of infinitely larger sums for a great standing' army, a way
will be opened to meet the difficulty.
Consumption Tax A Bad Scheme
We do not think it hardly reasonable that the consumption tax
on sugar, which is proposed by some, could be enacted into law alter
the repeal of the free sugar clause of the Underwood tariff bill; al
though it must be constantly borne in mind that a fight will be made
for it and that this freak proposition has a few powerful friends.
The present duty on Cuban sugar, which enjoys a twenty per
cent, differential, is 1.01 cents per pound, while the duty on outside
sugar, other than Cubas, is 1.264 cents per. pound. As we under
stand the matter, the duty under the law which is now proposed will
remain at the figures quoted, the Underwood bill, which is repealed,
providing that this final duty should conic off on May 1 next.
litis consumption tax, which now threatens and which will un
doubtedly follow the Kitchin measure in Conrress. works out the
same as actual free sugar, insofar as the domestic producer is con
cerned, assuming thit the tax is equal to the duty, which seems to be
the talk. No matter what the consumption tax is, however, it is bad
for the producer and should be opposed by all persons interested, direct
ly. in building up the sugar industry in America.
This consumption tax idea is a snag still left in the path of sugat,
and we are hopeful that the present Congress may put it to sleep for
good and all along with other freak sugar legislation.
. The Philippine Islands
In the days of President McKinley the question "Shall we give
up the Philippines?" would have met with a thunderous 'No!'
From the tone of the newspapers of today, Republican and Demo
cratie, one gathers that the country has undergone a remarkable
change of sentiment, and that the feeling that the Philippines should
be cut adrift is rapidly increasing. The present war has undoubtedly
had the effect of boosting sentiment in favor of cutting off distant
possessions which might become a menance rather than an advantage
in event of war.
V ere it possible to let the Philippines go outright, without any
strings, congress would probably jump at the opportunity. Yet we
all know that if that were done the tribes would be fighting among
themselves in a very short time, and right on top of that the archipel
ago would become the prey of the land-hungry nations. But even
that might be better than the protectorate, which is proposed and ex
pected; for anyone familiar with conditions in the Philippines knows
that the finest way in the world to invite war with some foreign power
would be to allow the Filipinoes to try to govern themselves under
the outside protection of the United States. Every nation on earth
would be demanding redress at Washington in less than a year.
In this Philippine proposition the position of Uncle Sam is be
coining like that of the fellow in the story from Noah's Ark who.
after tackling the bear wished very much to break away but found
himself unable to do so.
For defensive purposes, Hawaii is the logical Pacific outpost at
the present time and will be until conditions have undergone very
great changes Measures for Pacific defense should be concentrated
upon these islands, and. until such time as Uncle Sam has a Pacific
fleet equal to any navy around the Pacific, any possession to the west
ward must prove a menace in proportian to its size. This talk may not
be a striking example of spread-eagleism, but it -is common sence
nevertheless.
New Day For Athletics
Hie decision of the Fourth Regiment, National Guard, to accept
the responsibility for baseball and other athletic sports on Kauai is an
event of more than passing importance. It means that the Kauai
Athletic Association and the senior baseball league, which have exist
ed for so many years, will, for all practical purposes, go out of busi
ness, their functions being assumed bodily and entirely by one branch
of the new military machinery which now covers the inhabited parts
of the island.
Baseball, football and the like on Kauai have been vigorously
encouraged in the past. The big league games throughout much of
the spring and summer have been as regular as the recurrence of the
years, while football and other athletics have been encouraged. Un
doubtedly the almost historic Athletic Association and the baseball
league have done well, and the people of Kauai recognize and appre
ciate their achievements.
Under the new scheme, larger and better results are promised
from the fact that the (Kauai) National Guard, under its svsttin of
regimental and battalion athletic officers, is perfectly organized for
just such a situation as is now ahead. In baseball, for instance: In
place of six first teams, representing in a haphazard way localities.
there will be twelve teams, representing definitely the twelve com
panies of the Kauai regiment of the National Guard, which are locat
ed in different towns. A very large majority of the athletes of the
island belong to the militaiv companies, as well as the rough material
from which trained athletes are made; so it is only a questton of time
when the whole athletic situation will probably be improved and set
forward on a larger scale at that.
It is a new day for athletics on Kauai.
Germany's Latest Drive
Any opinion as to the full purposes or probable extent of the
present German drive into F'rance at and near Verdun would be perad
venture. More than half the war students of the world will doubtless
take this drive to be the climax of German effort to reach Paris and
bring France to her knees. If that be so, it may safely be inferred that
German armv is equipped with the most formidable array of guns in
history and that Verdun is only one of several places through which
drives of enormous proportions will be made.
There are doubtless those who will conclude at once that the cam
paign wiil plav itself out in a short time, giving as a reason that Ger
many cannot, at this stage of the war, spare from other fronts the
number of men absolutely required to meet the enormous armies of
the Allies, if Paris is the objective, The thought may occur that the
necessary withdrawal of troops from the Russian frontier, for in
stance, might mean the return of the bear to Poland and the Austrian
frontier. In regard to this, however, Germany probably figuies that
Russia just now has her hands full with Turkey and Austria and could
not afford another movement toward the west and south.
Really one guess is as good as another as to what is planned or
what may be accomplished by either side. This much maybe taken
for granted, however: This spring will witness the greatest battling
since the war began, and to our mind one side or the other will go
down to defeat and disaster befoie another winter comes to stay the
fearful carnage.
Thk kxcitkment at Honolulu over the effort of someone to
secure recruits for the British atmy fiom among soldiers discharged
from the American armv is probably another case of a tempest in a
teapot. The soldiers concerned are doubtless born Britons who are
being encouraged and assisted to join the clors in Europe, .but by
private parties strictly and bv the use of pnvate funds for transporta
tion purposes. It is beyond the range of probability that the British
government knows or cares anything about the matter. But the Car
nival is out of the way and Honolulu must turn to something f-r a
sensation. This happens to be the only thing in sight, and it will
doubtless be played up for sevcial times more than it is teally worth.
Loyalty to the flag and a thorough knowledge of mid sympathy
with American ideals should be among the first qualifications of school
teachers on Kauai. In no place under the flug are these qualifications
so necessarv as in this cosmopolitan community. We mention this mat
ter now for the reason that in a few months the list of teachers for
next vear will again be made out, and we are hopeful that these ruling
qualifications may stand out from the beginning, last and all the time
Whethkr hkcavsk Kauai has been represented in the Hawaii
Promotion Coniittee. or the "new broom" in the secretary's effice of
that committee has been making the old saying good, or general con
ctitions have chanced, we do not know: but it remains a fact that this
island has had more tourists in the nast six weeks than probably in
six years before.
Hil.o is to he coinplinicnlod on the vrl she is already doing by
way of preparation for t ho Civic Convent ion, which will bo hold in that
city, presumably about Soptonihcv. The Civic Convention has developed
into a very large institution, and a considerable per. rentage of its suc
cess in future will depend upon advance work of program-making
Kauai fell down quite a lot in not beginning work for the last convon
tion several months earlier than was done,
We feel that the wealthier people, who, after all is said, are
most directly interested in a serviceable National Guard organization
on Kauai, should, without solicitation, get behind the effort to supply
a commodious and attractive appearing armory at Lihue. Colonel
Broadbent, Captain Moragne and perhaps other officers of the Guard
have, after expending much time and effort, developed a splendid
scheme and it should be carried out.
There is a ray of hope in the nig melon cut yesterday by the
Inter-Island Steamship Company. It suggests a new possibility of
larger and better steamers on the Kauai run. In the meanwhile,
however, Messrs. Kennedy, McLean, Gedge and their co-workers are
to be congratulated on the excellent showing made.
With IWVKK streets, new residences, uh'rgrd social halls and busi
ness premises, an up-to-date arinorv, a half balta'ion of the National
Guard, etc,, etc., Makawcli is rapidly becoming some town.
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A NEW PORTRAIT OF THE PRESIDENT
Federalization Of The Guard
That the National Guard is under the authority of the several
States and Territories, and not of the Federal government, is the great
obstacle in developing it as the reserve army of the United States.
This is (or is generally supposed to be) provided by the Constitution
which further prohibits the employment of the militia for other pur
poses than to repel invasion, to suppress insurrection and to execute
the laws.
It is plain, however, that if there is no chance of the adoption of
ELEELE STORE
J. I. Silva, Prop.
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Main Office, Eeele, Kauai. Tel. 7 1 W.
IIISlI CalTrrS
MAX GREENBAUGH
MANTI-ACTrKEKs' AGENT
KAUAI CORRESPONDENCE INVITED
Office: Hawaiian Hotel
HONOLULU
P. O. Box 524
ML & D0Q(
LET US PROVE IT TO YOU
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Send us the pieces of
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fwrrivivri
KAUAI GARAGE CO.
We sell
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One Quality only THE BEST
If you are not getting the mileage vou expect just try
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in stock.
We have in stock the
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j Waimea Stables!
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Up-to-date Livery, Draying and Boarding Stable and Auto-
Livery Business.
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AUTOMOBILE STAGE-LINE
BETWEEN LIHUE and KEKAHA
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Leaving Lihue every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Leaving Kekaha every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I
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F. WEBER Manager. j
Telephone 43 W Waimea P. O. Box 71
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