The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-12
ARE WEARY OF GEN. KING.
Hawaiian People Anxious For Their
Chief Military Officers DEPARTMENT


Chief Military Officers Department
Honolulu. Nov. 1.-THE stationing of
garrison mere has brought about more
turmoil and anxiety than did the revo-
!uIoh Al the days before there was sta
BILE government
First, there was foraging by some OF
the soldiers, in which gardens, orchards,
ana melon patches suffered as property
naQ never suffered in any revolution the
lsIands had Known and some of the
1oraglng extended to the looting of iso-
ated.Ch1nese stores, the holding up OF
pedestrians and violent crimes attempt
ed against the persons of others. This
was quickly checked by stern dtsci-
pine
Then for two hours one night the
town was in a reign of terror, inspired
by the fact that Lieut.. Wheelock of the
First New York, in command of the
provost guard, together with his friend,
Lieut.. Merriam of Gen. Kings staff, in
a moment of artificial exhilaration, de-
clared martial law, arrested or ran off
the streets all citizens they found, and
nearly prectpitated a riot with the po-
lice.
Gen. King. after snubbing the ladies
or the RED Cross society, as they think
has just reached a breathing spell in a
controversial correspondence with Dis
trict Magistrate W. Luther Wilcox, in
which he has neither silenced his oppo-
nent nor raised himself in the estima-
ton of the public.
To cap the climax the medical depart
ment of the garrison, after deliberately
refusing the cooperation of the health
department of the city in preserving
sanitary conditions in the camps, has an
epidemic of typhoid fever, hospital
filled to overlooking, and, in a panic, has
ordered a removal of both camp and
hospital to another locality, which, so
far as the experience of the health de-
partment goes, is no better than the
present side of the camp on the slopes
of Diamond Head, which is considered
a particularly salubrious spot.
Gen. Kings controversy with Magis-
trate Wilcox really grows out of the
escapade of the two young officers who
declared martial law and anaugurated
the reign of terror. In view or the ract
that the military had established a pro
VOSt guard downtown to look after IN
toXicated and disorderly soldiers, the
police. out of courtesy had been IN
structed not to arrest soldiers except
in extreme cases, but to leave them,
when drunk and disorderly, to the pro-
vost guard. 1t was for this reason that
the two officers were able to carry on
their high-handed and riotous conduct
without interference from the police, the
latter thinking that their orders did not
allow them in interfere.
The next day after this the civil au-
thorities thinking that Gen. King would
summariIy act in the premises, left
that matter to the military instead Of
promptly causing the arrest of the two
officers. Gen. King, however, did moth
ing except to have Lieut.. WheelOck re-
moved from the command on the pro-
VOSt guard and sent back to the COM
mand of his company, while as for
Lieut.. Merriam, his aid, nothing was
done, and within tWenty-four hours af-
terWard he was the guest of the general
at a dinner given to number OF Off
GERS.
This action, or lack of action, so NOR
titled the civil authorities, in view Of
the courtesy it had shown the military
that strict orders were given to the pO-
lice to pay no attention to the provost
guard, but to arrest every soldier VINO
was drunk or disOrderly or otherwise
violating the civil law. This order was
obeyed with alacrity, and on each sue
ceeding night the police station was
until this course produced an era OF
sobriety among the soldiers and Wig
lance in the provost guard.
1t was in sentencing one OF these sol
diers that Magistrate Wilcox made the
remarks which provoked the CORE
spOndence between himself and Gen.
King. In the course of these remarks
the magistrate said, as he was reported
you must not think that because
you wear a soldiers uniform you are
above the law. So long as you are on
Hawaiian soil, Just so long are you
amenable to Hawaiian peace regula-
tions, unless in the extraordinary time
of martial law. 1t is in my heart to be
lenient with you. But you have slnned
and must be punished. If there was
any prospect of your paying just
penalty before a military court would
let you off easy here. But to tell you
the truth have no confidence whatever
in your court martial. A short time ago
two army officers created a most dis
graceful disturbance in the business
center Next day, according to the pa
pers, when complaints were to be made,
your commanding officer was sick abed
and could not be seen, but gave big
dinner to friends that evening all the
same. So, while I have you here will
impose a sentence which deem suitable
for the offense in view of all the cir
cumstances I sentence you to fifteen
days Imprisonment at hard labor and
20 nav court pOSfS