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Stead's Last Article - Men of Mark Alexander Hume Ford of Honolulu. BY HENRY STEAD

Many years ago, in 1907, when Mr. Ford first went to Honolulu, he took with him a great idea, and he has consistently worked on it ever since.
This idea first of all found expression in the Hands-Around-the-Pacific Club, and

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later in the Pan-Pacific Union.
Why, said Mr. Ford, should the nations of the Pacific not get together and be friends, instead of each sulking in its tent preparing for trouble?
...
In 1908 Mr. Ford began the systematic organization of the Pan-Pacific Union by making a trip to New Zealand and Australia, where he interested leading men in the idea.
In 1914 he again toured the Pacific, and completed his previous work.
He then organized branches of the Union in all Pacific lands.
In 1920 he persuaded a party of Congressmen to visit the Orient, and establish points of contact with the leading men in Japan, China and the Philippines.

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When Mr. Ford first came to Honolulu he spent a year looking round before he got seriously to work.
But such a man could not remain inactive, and during the first twelve months he organized the Outrigger Canoe Club, with the object of reviving surf-board riding.
The old timers ridiculed him.
White men could never ride these surf-boards, they said; only native Hawaiians were able to do so.
Undismayed, he managed to get together 100 enthusiasts.
From this nucleus the club has grown until it has a membership of 2000 men, women and children.
On Waikiki Beach you may see white men ride the waves any day, white women sometimes, and you may see some of the world's champion swimmers disporting themselves in the waves.
He next organized the Trail and Mountain Club for trampers, which is still going strong.
There are few new things in Honolulu Mr. Ford has not had a hand in starting.
But he does not care to take a leading part once the organization is on its feet.
...
Ford, who is a bachelor, is unable to work at night, but he makes up for that by being at his office every morning between four and five.
In the midst of his innumerable activities he manages to bring out The Mid-Pacific Magazine every month.
It is a wonderful production.
It relies upon its pictures to catch the interest of the reader, and the captions below these pay eloquent tribute to Ford's skill as a
journalist.
Printed on fine paper, with its many illustrations, this magazine is indeed a remarkable publication to come out of Honolulu.
The blocks are made in the town, and the whole of the printing is done there.
To bring out this periodical would keep most men fully employed, but Ford has so many other important things to do that he almost forgets he is editing it, and has to see it through in the early hours before the city is astir.

Alexander Hume Ford was born in Charleston, South Carolina. 53 years ago.
His ancestors were amongst the earliest settlers there.
On his mother's side he is descended from the Earls of Marchmont in Scotland.
One of his forbears signed the Declaration of Independence, and was a close friend of George Washington in tent and in council chamber.
Becoming first Gov-

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ernor of South Carolina, it was through his efforts that the Colony broke away from the British Empire, and threw in its lot with those in the North.
Educated at the Porter Academy in Charleston, Ford early joined the staff of The News and Courier of that city.
After the famous earthquake he moved to New York, where he wrote plays in the spare time his newspaper allowed him.
After traveling around for awhile, he settled in Chicago, joining the staff of The Daily News.
...

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The Photo Club here has promised to aid in a splendid exhibit of photographs by the youngsters.
I have two of our boys at the Outrigger Club who will be busy during the Exhibit making surf boards.
Two or three boys are making enough money at this to put them through college if they care to use the money for that purpose.
I think we could have an exhibit of the making of the ukulele by boys that are learning this art.
Then of course there would have to be the exhibit of our Hawaiian boys' glee clubs, ukulele quartettes and the steel guitar.

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