The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-09
THE REPLYOF MR.. WILCOX
Hawaii's Delegate to Congress
Submits a Statement.
His Answer to Charges Brought by
Attorney Gear Read to the House
Elections Committee by Represen-
tative Robinson Given Time to
File Brief on a Legal Point.


met yesterday morning to resume con-
sideration of the charges fled by Attorney
George d. Gear. of Honolulu, against
Delegate Wilcox of Hawaii. Representa-
tive Robinson of Indiana appeared for Mr..
| Wilcox
Mr.. Robinson wanted to know the
| method of the procedure that would be
pursued by the committee, and II the let
ters alleged to have been written by Mr..
Wilcox to the Filipinos would be taken
| cogpizance of. Mr.. Robinson also asked
whether the charges against Mr. Wilcox
were to be considered in the nature of
contested election case, and whether
or not he would be entitled to counsel
fees. He then read the following state
ment submitted by Mr.. Wilcox:
House of Representatives.
Washington ID. c., Feb s.
Hon Robert w. Tayler. Chairman Eiec-
tions Committee No. l. House of Rep
resentatives, Washington. ID. c.:
Sir: l am in receipt of yesterdays
memorial. or petition, Of George D. Gear.
with respect to the seat that | occupy in
the United States Congress, as Delegate
from the Territory of Hawaii.
Il understand that many of the charges
preferred are. ON their face. without mer-
it / desire respectfully to submit my
answer to such portion Of the charges as
the committee may indicate their desire
to have answered. all of which are in
consistent with the facts, where mate
rial. AS l am unfamiliar with the pro-
ceedings in such cases. / desire reas n
able time in which to prepare such an
swer
''If the two letters. attached as Exhibits
and C to the petition. dated respective
ly January 81 1899 and March g. 1899.
are to be considered and answered, l re-
spectfully suggest that the conditions pre-
vailng at that time. and the legal status
OF the Hawaiian Islands with respect 10
the United States, were entirely different
from those existing later, and at the time
of my election, and. indeed, at the time
the Hawaiian Islands finally became a part
OF the United States. the organic law be-
coming effective. and making the Hawaiian
Islands definitely part Of the United
States In June. 1900 almost year and
half after the pretended letters are dated.
/ am now sincerely and thoroughly an
American, and ! believe in and heartily
support their institutions.
II submit that ! should have, in fair
ness. definite statement from the COM
mittee as to what portions of these
charges they deem material and desire
from me an answer. expressing the fur
ther desire to have reasonable time
after learning from .he committee their
wishre .lLr.r which o submit my an
5wer Very RESP .ctfuiy,
F17EB ". WILCOX,
.e1sga lrcm be T=rritory Of Hawaii in
-h1 Cong 0y gited States"
When n4 4ad concluded the
rpae Chairman Tay-
Ir. said th. considered the
f.ar Claass Mr. Wilcox and
t5at .rs r---.ur mad been discussed.
There was no rule OF procedure in such
case as the one now before the committee
Referring to MIR. Robinson's suggestion
that MIR. Wilcox be allowed ten days to
prepare an answer. Chairman Tayler said
Congress would adjourn in few days;
that the natter was now before Congress.
and 1t ought to be disposed Of before ad-
journment of Congress.
Mr. Wilcox had known OF these charges
for some time. The committee. Mr.. Tay-
Ter said. would consider the charge
whether there WAS an answer or not. The
committee, he said, were not unfriendly
to Mr. Wilcox The question before the
committee, he said, was one OF fact.
Mr.. Mann, OF the committee. said 1t
would be we'll 10 know under what circum-
stances the alleged letters were written
Chairman Tayler said the original let
ters were here and requested Attorney
Gear to let the committee have them. Mr..
Gear said he did not have them with him,
but could produce them later.
On motion of Mr. Linney. the committee
went into executive session to consider
line of policy to be pursued.
When the hearing was resumed at
o'clock Mr.. Robinson. representing Mr..
Wilcox, read the following statement on
behalf of the Delegate from Hawaii:
In answer to the alleged charges and
facts presented to the Elections Commit
tee No l. of the House OF Representatives,
the undersigned. Robert w. Wilcox. Dele
gate from the Territory OF Hawaii. sub
mits: That he is native Hawaiian, that
he shared with the people native then,
loyalty to the former Queen LiliuOkalani
during her reign. and was not in sympa-
thy with the reigning power Immediately
| succeeding her reign.
That after the annexation Of Hawaii to
the United States, he labored earnestly to
secure from the United States Congress
an organic law for the people of Hawaii
and came to Washington and remained for
five months to promote the same. He
| freely confesses that he did not thereto
| fore understand fully the institutions or
the feelings Of the United States, but all
doubts were dispelled when the Congress
gave to the people OF Hawaii a splendid
I
as could be for their rights. personal,
property, and political, and making them
citizens OF the United States
THAT in common with the people then
he at all times with genuine patriotism
supported the United States and it's in
stltutions; and Is now and has been
| loyal supporter of the Constitution laws
| and Government OF the United States
| That on the passage Of the said organic
| law for Hawaii, he. and the citizens OF
| the United States and Hawaii generally,
registered as a voter and he announced
his candidacy as Delegate to Congress
| from Hawaii, as provided by law. That
during his canvass he loyalty supported
| the United States and it's Constitution
and laws and no word Of his during said
| time uttered could be otherwise con-
| strued. He did during that time hold
| out the hope that Hawaii, now Terri
| tory of the United States would some
| time become a State OF the Union. He
admits that on January 81. 1899 and on
| March s. 1899 he wrote several letters
marked Exhibits B and in the petit on.
That said letters were OF personal
and confidential nature, and sent to whom
he supposed was a friend. and who he
thought would not betray his confidence.
/, This view was justified by the fact that
the letter Exhibit was In aid of him
He further said that said letters we're
written by him under an entire miscon-
ception OF the real attitude OF the Gov
ernment of the United States toward the
people of the Hawaiian Islands and his
false impressions were entirely dlssipated
by the action OF Congress in enacting the
organic Jaw for the Territory which was
..;t gn1r