Leilehua High School - Ka Leilehua Yearbook (Wahiawa, HI)

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THE CONSTITUTION AND NATIONAL DEFENSE CContinuedJ There are two differences between that World War situation and todcxy's dark clouds over the world, as far as America is concerned. First: Roosevelt is now at the head of the government with the incalculable experience and infor- mation he gained from the World War at his command: thus Roosevelt with a plan quite contrary to Wilson's, may be able to keep the U. S. out of the Next War: second: with modern airplanes, warships, submarines and other machines of war, the possibility of an attack upon the American shores, eastern or western, or simultaneously, with cities destroyed and millions killed, is not remote or far-fetched. The nation must be so defended, so prepared that an aggressor or combination of aggressors will find it unwise to meddle with anything under the American flag-in view of the grave consequences into which it is likely to fall. Perhaps no country in the world has been more reluctant to prepare for war than the United States. What course should we pursue in an active search for peace, in the preservation of the immortal Constitution? Will fascism or communism, stripped of its false idealistic front, revealed in its true color, dicta- torship, sweep democracy off the earth? Whether or not President Roosevelt's national defense 'plan works out, whether or not international lawlessness stops, whether or not the United States is drawn into another inevitable World struggle, whether or not the American forces will fight abroad or at home, whether or not democracy triumphs, whether or not peace is achieved, remains to be seen-but the fact is obvious that the national defense will play a big part in the life or death of that great, outstand- ing document of democracywthe CONSTITUTION. THE WATERFRONT IN HONOLULU RICHARD FERNANDEZ, Sophomore ANXIOUS CROWDS waiting, hula girls, lei sellers showing their beautiful flower lets, await ships which come in from distant ports. That is what one sees when he enters the beautiful harbor of the Paradise of the Pacific. When the ship begins to dock, the beautiful song, Aloha Oe, can be heard welcoming people to the beautiful isle of Oahu. Some stay a day, some a week, but what- ever the time, they will always remember the days when they used to lie on the beach at Waikiki, under beautiful palm trees swaying in the breeze. The day of departure approaches with incredible swiftness. As they board the luxurious liner with its streaming banners, they promise themselves that they will return as soon as possible, to this tropical isle. The ship begins to move, the strains of Aloha Oe can be heard, tears begin to stream down their cheeks and with a whisper they say Aloha to you, the Paradise of the Pacific-Aloha to Hawaii Nei.

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THE CONSTITUTION AND NATIONAL DEFENSE Revocato Medina, junior, winner of The Star-Bulletin oratorical contest for the island of Oahu, placed fourth in the finals for the territory. Here is a reprint of his prize-winning speech. A CENTURY and a half ago, the far-sighted framers of the Constitution, in order to provide for the common defense and to safeguard the ideals and principles of liberty and democracy-made provisions in the Constitution for the nation's defenses. It was with a common aim, with the memories of having been under the rule of a king-of another nation, with the memories of tyranny and oppres- sion that they laboriously wrote in the defense clauses. Furthermore, having seen armies trample over people's rights in other lands, they divided the powers of the army and navy to prevent the return to monarchy -which Europe had predicted, to prevent dictatorship, or imperialism. The president was given the rank of Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, whose blood, in the words of Dupuy and Elliot, is the precious coinage in which the price of Liberty has been and may again be paid. To keep within bounds of the constitutional principle of checks and balances, Congress was given the sole power to declare war, to raise and support armies, to provide and maintain a navy, and to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces. Today, with the world powers running in the greatest armament race in history, with international lawlessness on the rampage, with undeclared wars raging in the East and West, and with fascism threatening the world, the na- tional defense phase of the Constitution is becoming more and more important -for it may mean the life or death of that great document. It was in President Roosevelt's Chicago speech that the eyes of the world were first opened to the fact that the United States would use a strong arm in keeping itself out of war, in an active search for peace. Perhaps I can best illustrate what followed next in this Associated Press newspaper article lead printed in The Star-Bulletin : WASHINGTON, lan. 28.-President Roosevelt asked Congress today to authorize millions of dollars of new expenditures for the navy's fighting force and the army's land defenses to bolster armaments he termed inadequate for the purposes of national security. lust recently the billion dollar naval expansion bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate. I-'or the army's land defenses 447 million has been recommended by the House Appropriations committee. In a recent poll conducted by the American Institute of Public Opinion, it was proved that the vast majority of the Americans overwhelmingly favored more adequate defense. The result showed that 74 per cent voted in favor of Roosevelt's Big Navy program, 69 per cent for the increase in the strength of the army, and 80 per cent for the enlargement of the air force. The institute studies showed that while the people favored more adequate defense, they nevertheless, definitely, did not want to fight the wars of other nations. It was clearly demonstrated that the World War has taught the Americans a lesson hard to forget. Let's turn to Emil Ludwig's Life of Roosevelt for an interesting glimpse. It was at the brink of the World War when Wilson, with historic consciousness, refused the advice of Roosevelt, who was then the Assistant Secretary of Navy, to mobilize the naval forces explaining, Come here, Roosevelt, and sit down. i ll explain it to you. The eyes of history are fixed upon us. Yes, it is true that we shall probably enter the war. But look you, in the year 1980, some historian will be writing the history of this war . . . a German or a Russian. This man must say, 'AMERICA DID NOTHING TO BE PREPARED BEFORE IT WAS COMPELLED TO GO TO WAR'.

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THE BLOCKHEAD lWith apologies to Mr. Longfellow? On a mid-Pacific Island, ln the vast and mighty ocean, Backed up by the Koolau mountains And the Waianae Range before it, Stands the school called Leilehua, Wreath of heaven, Leilehua, Close to it is Schofield Barracks, Guardian of the nation's outposts, Largest fortress on this planet. Near to it is Honolulu, Capital of all the islands, City of four hundred thousand. Nearer still are the plantations, Where pineapple fields now flourish To this school came many children, But of all, the one most noted Was a Haole called The Blockhead.' Even back upon the mainland Had the news of explorations And the acts unique of Blockhead Traveled far throughout the nation. P or his queerness won him laurels. Once upon a summer morning Blockhead, seeking an adventure, Chanced to wander to the Pali Up atop the mighty Pali. Took he with him a small spyglass Focused it upon the forest At the bottom of the Pali, Saw he there a tiny pondlet. Straightway there a thought did hi him- He would leap from off the Pali- Dive into the pool of water, Like a carnival high diver. Loud he told of his intentions Of his daring bold intentions. Soon a crowd he gathered 'round him Come to look on him and marvel. To the very edge stepped Blockhead. One more step and down he started Bouncing, thumping toward the bot- lO1'l'1 t While the crowd gasped in their Hor- ror! 1 i Ye who fear a tragic ending- Wait! The story is not ended! Far above the tiny pondlet Soon they spied our hero hanging, Hanging by his pink suspenders, By his giddy pink suspenders. When they reached him, soft he mut tered I shall try again tomorrow. After reaching home, our hero I-lied him back to Leilehua, Where a contest was in progress: Have you had a queer adventure? Win a prize: just tell us of it. This, said Block, Now I will enter l have had a great adventure. And he did proceed to do so. When the teachers read his entry Of his leap from off the Pali They all said, lt is preposterous, Such a thing could never happen! But, said Blockhead, I can prove it By my little pink Suspenders, F or l left them there behind me At the bottom of the Pali, Left them hanging there behind me On the limb of a kukuif' n u Well, they said, then that is differ- ent. We will look for your suspenders, And, if we can find them, surely We will then believe your story. Sure enough, the teachers, searching u 1 Found the Blockhead's pink suspend- ers - And believed they then his story, Saying To you, our dear Blockhead First prize let us now award you! Betty leanne Alfonte, junior 1 1