The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-23
WILL NEGOTIATE
Claus SpTGCkGlS Will Withdraw
Trust Influence.
RUMORS REGARDING THE SCHEME
w. C. Irwin is Now Work.
ing for Annexation.
Spreckels Wants Governments
Friendship - Story Sent
SpreckeIs Wants Government
Friendship - A Story Sent
to California.

A dispatch was sent from here yes
terday by a correspondent of San
Francisco paper which, il true, means
much for the cause of annexation. The
purport of the dispatch was to the eff
feet that since William G. Irwin had
recovered. he has been busily engaged
trying TO win Claus Spreckels over to
the cause of annexation.
1t is generally understood that the
Sugar Trust is against annexation and
that the quiet influence of that body
will be brought into active play among
the Senators between now and Decem-
Der. so that if the ratification of the
treaty is not killed it will at least be
delayed If the trust can be won over,
then the passage of the treaty Will be
a calm one. w. G. Irwin, like Con-
gresham Berry, has indications that
way" and while his interests are al
most identical with those OF Mr..
Spreckels, the latter has not been an
tagonistic to Mr.. Irwin in his wishes
in this respect. The story sent off yes
terday says that Mr.. Spreckels is will
ing to withdraw the opposition of the
trust to annexation, provided the Ha-
Waiian Government will cease it's ami
mostly to the Spreckels' interests on
the Islands.
The letter containing the informa-
tion is said TO have been received here
by the last steamer, and contained,
further. the information that since Mr..
Twins recovery he had been most as
siduous in his efforts to patch up
truce between the Government and the
representative of, if not its actual,
strongest opponent. 1t is just possible
that the story emanated from pipe,
as the Hawaiian Government mas
shown no vindicativeness to Mr..
Spreckels in his interests here. An
other thing, it is generally understood |
that Mr.. Spreckels' actual interests in |
Hawaii have not amounted to very |
much since 1898, when through p1que |
at the Government for the prOmptneSS |
in which a little Indebtedness of S95,- |
600 was liquidated by Minister Damon |
he decided to leave the country. Short |
Iy after that time it was announced |
that he had distributed all of his prop |
erty on the Islands to his children.
The fight of the Government against |
the s. S. China's register, while in no |
way prompted by friendship for Mr.. |
Spreckels or his steamship interests, |
NAV. perhaps have had its influence
on the multi-millionaire sugar baron, |
for the granting of such a register |
would be giving to rival line the |
privileges, which under the present |
condition of affairs, and in the event OF |
annexation. would be enjoyed by the |
Spreckels company. 1t will be remem- |
bered that half a dozen years ago, |
when the passage on the China steam |
ers was no higher than on the others, |
those vessels were selected by tourists |
in preference to the Oceanic Line for
several reasons. Mr.. Spreckels notified |
the Pacific Mail Company that unless
they gave up the Island business he
would establish a competing line be-
tween San Francisco and China and
Japan ports. Instead of giving up the
business outright a compromise was
made, whereby the rates on the China
vessels was increased and no freights
taken. This agreement has continued
in force since then, so far as the rates
of passage are concerned.
As was stated the Government is |
showing no animosity toward Mr.. |
Spreckels for his anti annexation |
views or for his attitude toward the |
Island Government, and if he is will |
ing to withdraw the opposition of the |
trust. thereby practically assisting the |
annexation cause. the Government and |
the people will be glad to learn of the |
change of affairs-if it is true.