The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-18
WILCOX S.
REPLY.
Delegate Answers
| Charge Of
Treason.
ADMITS WRITING
FILIPINO LETTERS
He Says That He Did Not Under
stand Our American
+ Institutions.


today by House Committee on Eiec-
lions No. l. Wilcox was present, ac-
| companied by Representative Robin
son of Indiana, who appeared as his
friend and counsel Robinson stated
at the outset that as Wilcox was un-
familiar with the procedure IN cleo
ton contests he had consented TO ap-
pear in behalf of the Delegate.
At the afternoon session Represen-
tatiye Robinson presented the follow
! ing specific answer of Wilcox to the
! charges contained in the letters sub
mitted:
..rrhat he (Wilcox) is a native Ha-
waiian, that he shared with the ma
| tive people in their loyalty to the
former Queen Liliuokalani during her
reign and was not in sympathy Win
| the reigning power Immediately sue
ceeding her reign.
"That after the annexation of Ha-
waii he did not understand fully the
institutions or the feelings Oh the
Tinted States, but all doubts were dls-
nelled when the Congress gave to the
neonla of Hawaii a splendid system OF
organic laws
THAT, in common with the peopie,
he at all times, with genuine patriot,
ism. supported the United states anu
| ire institutions and is now ana mas
been a loyal supporter of the consul
! tuition, laws and Government OF the
United States. ooo
HE admits that on January 81, 1899
and on March 8, 1899. he wrote the iet-
ters appearing in the petition; ina.
! said letters were of a personal ana
! confidential nature, and sent to one
| whom he supposed was friend and
| whom he thought would not betray
his confidence. He further says thal
said letters were written by him under
an entire misconception of the real at
titude of the Government of the
United States toward the people OF
Hawaii.
..That under the laws Of the United
States at a fair and free election ne
was elected as a Delegate from Ha-
wall and no reason exists or mas eA-
listed disqualifying him.
! The additional letters written by
Wilcox were submitted and he made
the same answer to them. These let
tiers were written in 1899 and criticised
the American course in the Phlhp-
pines.
Gear, the prosecutor, then contended
that the election of Wilcox was II
regular and void, as the requirements
of the United States statutes We're not
complied with On being crosS-ques-
toned, Gear said he had made speeches
in Hawaii favoring the election as
Delegate of Parker, the opponent OF
Wilcox and in these speeches he had
not questioned she right of Hawaii to
have a Delegate Gear stated that in
Wilcox's campaign speeches he had
said he would restore Queen Liliuoka-
lani When the witness said Wilcox
had '.eternally damned the Amer1-
cans" the Delegate muttered lie,
but was restrained by his counsel
he made an extended argument ar
raigning the Delegate.
During the argument Mann inter
jected the statement >that certain let
tiers written by eminent men came
quite as near treason as those of Will
cox referring to the Filipinos.
Robinson made a brief closing argu-
!, ment on behalf of Wilcox, severely
.criticising those who had betrayed the
confidence of private letters and had
made them the basis of these charges
A brief on the law points will be sub
mitted next Tuesday.
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE House
Committee on Elections No. / has de-
cided to take eogniZance of the petit
lions and charges filed against Dele
gate Wilcox of Hawaii. George D
Gear of Hawaii, who makes the
charges, was questioned on law points
The members We're agreed that tht
matter should be cleared up by an in
quiry, and it was arranged to take
Gears testimony and that of Wilcox.
When the hearing began at 2 O'CLOCK
Delegate Dilcox and his chief accuser
George d. Gear, who has resided II
! Hawaii for the last two years, wert
| present. Chairman Tayler of Ohio
4 asked Wilcox if he had read thu
I charges. The Delegate replied in tn
y affirmative. Tayler said the portions
relating to Wilcox's marriage would b.
passed over and then asked the direc
question whether the Delegate hat
written the letters specified in tn
charges.
II will answer in proper way,
spoke up the Hawaiian, in broken &C
cents, "but I will do it to the com
nittee and not before these sorehead
coming here"
The chairman explained that tn
hearings would be public and all o
W1lcox's rights would be respected
Mann of Illinois, a member Of tn
committee, stated that time should b
given for such formal answer as VIII
;. said he could prepare his answer b.
tomorrow, so the committee adjourne'
= till 10 a. m. tomorrow.