The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-03
MATCH FOR TANTALUS.
HOW THE COMMISSION PROGRESSED
At wAsHINGToN.
and MIR. Gresham Became Very
impairment.

One of the Commissioners sent to
Washington in the interest OF the ex-
queen has at last opened his mouth.
His story of the experiences of the
Commission in the capital of the
United States, as given below, is some
what amusing, but is in all probable
ity correct. The statement as made is
as follows:
When the Commission had gotten
ready for business in Washington an
United States Senators upon the sub
iect of the mission. But the first Sen
ator inquired for was away, SO the
second, so the third, the fourth,
and so on through the en-
tire list known to the Commissioners.
This blocked things somewhat and the
gentlemen were at loss to know just
how to proceed. At last one OF them
CHANGED to enquire of the Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Senate where Mr.. So and So
had gone and was surprised when that
notable replied, "Ohl he's here"
closer inq uiry revealed the fact that the
Commissioners had been tricked by
some of their friends, the Senators hav-
ing been there all the while.
After this circumstance II few days
were spent looking around and
planning an interview with some
member of the State Department.
Then it came about that Judge Wide
mann came in one day and reported
that he had seen Mr.. Gresham. This
seemed strange to Mr.. Cummins, and
he could hardly understand why one
member, and not the whole Commits
sion, had been seen by the Secretary
of State.
A short time aiterward Mr.. Parker
came in and reported that he too had
been to see Mr.. Gresham. This
puzzled MIR. Cummins more than ever.
He was properly the head Of the Com
mission, but was apparently being left
out of whatsoever was passing.
Finally one afternoon Mr. Parker was
dressing to go out and on being asked
where he was going, by Mr.. Cummins,
replied: "To see Mr.. Gresham" Mr..
Cummins asked if he might not go
along and permission was granted.
Mr.. Gresham was seen for but a
moment, during which the Secretary
promised the gentlemen of the Com
mission that if Mr.. Cleveland was not
too ill on the following saturday they
might see him. But on the day set
apart Mr.. Gresham was sorry to inform
the gentlemen that Mr.. Cleveland was
too ill to be seen. They were promised,
however, that if the President was in
good health on the Wednesday follow
ing, the Commission might confer with
him.
But OH Monday or Tuesday the Com
missioners CHANGED to meet Mr.. Gresham
again and was informed that the Presi-
dent could not be seen on Wednesday.
The gentlemen from Hawaii had be-
come very impatient with the President
and so expressed themselves to Mr.
Gresham. The Secretary of State then
bluntly inquired what they wanted OF
the President, whom they represented
etc.
Mr.. Cummins then drew forth the
documents taken to Washington and
began detailed statement OF the Com.
missions visit. But Mr. Gresham was
busy and Mr.. Cleveland was not well, SC
the Secretary told the Commissioners
that if they would write off whatever
they might have to say to the Presiden
he would see that that dignitary re
ceived it.
This Mr.. Cummins, Judge Wide
mann, Mr.. Parker and Major Seward
proceeded to do.
The document was prepared, returned
to the Office OF the Secretary OF State
and the Commissioners left Washing
ton for home.