The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-06-13
HONOLULU, h. t. JUNE ID. 1876
THE REMOVAL OF WILCOX.


The Republican cannot but believe
that the Board OF Health has made a
mistake in its summary dismissal Of
Secretary Charles Wilcox. Mr.. VIII
cox has long been an employe OF the
Board. serving under all the former
Boards OF the past eleven years. his
service including the periods Of the
cholera and plague epidemics. and
yet, in all that time no charges Of any
kind were ever preferred against him.
We cannot but believe that the pres
ent members Of the Board have allowed
themselves to be governed more by
personal pique and prejudice than by
good Of the service. The Republican
recognizes the right of the Board to
have employees who are in thorough
harmony with the members We also
believe that Mr.. Wilcox has been in
harmony with the members, or at
least has tried to be, just as he has
been with all their predecessors in
the last eleven years, and If he has
failed il has been due more to the &C
tons of the members themselves than
to Secretary Wilcox
The claim that he gave away secrets
OF the Board OF Health is preposter-
Gus. The Board is a public body, and
as such can have no secrets from the
general public All its acts and doiags
are. and must be, open and above
board and performed in the full glare
Of publicity. Anything done by the
Board otherwise than in this way Is
Illegal and void. If Mr.. Wilcox did
give memoer OF tne Legislature Ger
tain information. as charged, he did
no more than he was in duty bound tn
do. II the Board is trying to work 10
secret, in the dark as It were. then the
members have mistaken the way and
should at once get into the right way,
which is the open way.
Unlike a good many other puone
officials and employees in Hawaii
Charles Wilcox has never become i'm
bued VIII the idea that he was a II as
ter of the people instead of servant
The Republican can speak from ex-
perienee on this question having
sought information from the Board OF
Health which was readily and cheer
fully furnished by Secretary Wilcox,
this being done by him at one time
after DR.. Garyin, the then executive
officer OF the Board. had refused the
information. One of the recently dis
charged employees OF one of the other
departments OF the Territorial admin
istrsuon was informed by The Repub-
lican only few months ago that UNI
less he furnished certain information
from his Office of public character.
as requested, mandamus proceed
ings would be instituted against him
TO compel him 60 do So This threat
had the desired effect and the infor-
nation was furnished. Secretary
Wilcox never became imbued with this
idea that the public acts and records
OF the Board OF Health were not the
property Of the people, hence he has
always been ready and willing to fur
nish such information as was at hand.
SIR. Wilcox has been an efficient
worker in the Republican party and
other things being equal he should De
given the preference over men who
have merely sailed under the Repub-
lican colors. but have never lifted a
hand to help the party. OF course he
should not be retained. If incompe-
tent. simply because he is a Repub-
lican. but 1t would seem bat right and
Just FOR the Board TO ofer some better
reason for his removal than any yet
advanced.
While members OF the Board deny
that the position has been offered to
anyone else ii can be stated as posi-
tive fact that q man who has played
fast and loose with every party and ev.
cry cause be ever advocated was asked
several weeks ago il he would accept
the Secresaryship Of the Board Of
Health and the President was author
lzsd Al Mondays secret meeting 10
offer IL to him. Fortunately for the
good name OF the Board the members
have receded from tins position.
The manner Of Mr.. wslcox's removal
stamps his record as bad. something
which he and al his friends resent
II the Board wanted him cut Of the
way be could have been gotten rid
ot without going about II IN 4 way q
reflect upon the mans character and
Integrity. :