The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-08-11
.A GHOST At THE BANQUET.
REMARKABLE HAPPENING OF
LAST EVENING.
Judges Humphreys, Galbraith and Silli-
man Object to Remarks Of Mr.. Nc
Clanahan-What They Were.

At the annual banquet of the Bar AS
ISOLATION at the Hawaiian 'Iorel last
evening, Judges Humphreys, Silliman
and Justice Galbraith, abruptly got up
from the table and left the banquet
without any explanation, While h. Is.
McClanahan was responding to the
coast, The Bench of Hawaii"
AS may be imagined this unusual ac-
ton had it's effect on the gathering, but
no expression of notice OF it was taken
until George ID. Gear who was later
called on Tor an address by the toast
master, Paul Neuman, criticised words
used by Mr.. McClanahan, reprimanding
the latter on the assumption that it was
the words he had used which led the
three judges to leave. Exception was
taken to this performance on the part
of Mr.. Gear by W. a. Kinney, f. Nj.
Hatch and others until finally the toast
master stilled the troubled waters be-
fore the banquet ended.
What Mr.. McClanahan said was the
following, as he stated this morning:
Mr.. President: In responding to this
toast, The Bench of hawa.., l feel
somewhat the same ditiidenCe felt by
my esteemed friend, the District Attor
ney, i'm responding to ...s ,uast. This
diffidence is especially felt by me be-
cause l recognize that my knowledge of
the present bench of Hawaii is entirely
disproportionate to my desire. When.
this evening, l was first approached to
respond to a toast, my preference to
respond to The Bar was made known,
but for some reason it was denied me,
and now at this time on this subject
proceed with some hestancy; indeed
my feeling perhaps is the feeling of
other members of the bar here, whom
might mention. l have the same feet
ing that, in a certain periodical, an
Irishman is depicted to have had, who,
while walking down a railroad track
with his little pack slung over his Shout
der singing and rejoicing in his happi-
ness, entirely oblivious of the fast-ap-
preaching train, was struck by the
train. The next picture shows our
friend, the lrshman in a deplorable
state; an arm here, leg there, while
from his head lying in the middle of
the track, came these words, addressed
to the fast-departing train In faith,
phwat was that?' But perhaps the new
sensation-the new experience which we
are all passing through at this time
is for the best; we will hope so. But in
all seriousness, as my friend, Mr.. De
Bolt has spoken of the bench as one of
the three parts Of our civil government,
let me approach the subject more near
ly and speak of the bench from closer
"a more personal standpoint"
1t is stated by others than Mr.. Nc
! -
whispered word from Judge Humph-
reys to Justice Galbraith and Judge
Silliman, sitting on either side of him,
the three rose simultaneously and left
the hall.
Mr.. Mechanism, continuing without
noticing the interruption said: THE bar
of the Hawaiian Islands give all honor
to the bench as it has existed and as it
now exists. We do this not only be-
| cause of our knowledge of the bench as
we read of it in other lands. but also
/ because the men of the past. who have
occupied the bench in these Islands
have been men of learning, of high in
tegrity. of unquestioned honesty and
now, 1 say, because of what we know of
/ its past. We hope and expect that our
bench will maintain that honorable rec
ord. Let us then drink to the health
of the honored and respected bench of
the Hawaiian Islands"
! Mr.. Mechanism was greatly surpris-
ed at the way his remarks were taken
and the action of the judges in the
matter.
I'm my response to the toast, il any
remark l may have made" he said this
morning, there was no earthly idea OF
offending Mr. Humphreys. Nothing
could have have been farther from my
ideas or intentions, and / am greatly
surprised that any remarks l may have
made were so taken. | am surprised
that Judge Humphreys, most of all,
should have misunderstood me. We
have been friends very long time, and
believe if Judge Humphreys has had
a friend among what may be designated
| the Opposition stronger than myself,
| that friend is not known to the gentle
Imam who responded to The Bench last
evening. l may state positively that
my remarks were jocular, purely and
simply, and should not have been un-
l 4 oil |
you that the occasion was not court
session nor meeting of the Bar Asso-
citation, but a gathering of attorneys al
a banquet as friends.
Why Judge Humphreys left the ban
quet table is only a matter of conJec'
ture, aside from differences to be drawn
from his conduct and the statements OF
those who pose as his friends nc
Spokesman, for he positively refused t.
talk about the matter this morning
saying that any account OF the Ideas
or opinions that may have actuated the
judges is departing from the banquet
hall would have to come from one OF
the others concerned. To this extent
perhaps, he made Justice Galbraith'
words his own. Perhaps also he may
have made the words of others who
defend his action, his own.
Justice Galbraith says: II think my
experiences have taught me the pro-
evening. | know the courtesies due
hosts of guests, are believe l know
when the bounds of proprieties have
been overstepped. When this point was
reached last evening by Mr.. McClana-
han / felt that the only gra rful tning
left for me to do was to quietly retire
which / did. My action was intepcnd'
ent of that of Mr.. Humphreys or Mr
Silliman, and was in my capacity as
guest and a gentleman.
THE remarks impressed me as an
attack on Mr.. Humphreys. l am not
sure that he was designated, but II
seemed to be the opinion of all that he
was the target Mr. Humphreys, like
myself, is an appointee Of President
Mckinley. Like myself he is judge
of the Hawaiian courts. Like myself
he was a guest Of the banquet. Not
being one of the speakers, he had nc
chance to reply to any remarks thai
may have or might have been made
That placed him at a disadvantage
which L readily saw and appreciated