Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-02-22
CHAIRMAN SEEMS
TO FAVOR WILCOX
Detail of Gears Fight to
UnSeat HaWaii'S
Delegate. ..
COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
tend AGAINST GEAR
Hawaii Represented Among Interested
Spectators Democrat Comes 10 Aid
Of Wilcox to Put Him Onto Me-
thOds Of Making His Fight.
Especial Correspondence


Washington, Feb. 9.-The House
Committee on Elections has been
wrestling for two days with the con.
test brought against Delegate Wilcox
looking to unseating him. Represen.
tatlve James NJ. Robinson (DemocratJ
OF Indiana appeared at yesterday
hearing as Mr.. Wilcox's attorney. Mr.
Robinson stated that as Mr.. Wilcox
was not familiar with the proceedings
in election cases he had consented to
appear in his behalf and filed the fol-
lowing answer to the memorial which
had been filed by George d. Gear:
| am in receipt Of yesterdays copy
or 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 Ha-
wall.
understand that many of the
charges preferred are, on their face
without merit | desire respectfully to
submit my answer to such portion Of
the charges as the committee may in
dictate their desire to have answered, all
OF which are inconsistent with the facts
where material. As | am unfamiliar
with the proceedings in such cases.
desire reasonable time In which to pre-
pare such answer.
II the two letters. attached as ex.
hibits d and C to the petition, dated
respectively January 81, 1899, and
March s, 1899, are to be considered
and answered, I respectfully suggest
that the conditions prevailing at that
time and the legal status Of the Ha-
walian Islands with respect to the Unit
ed States were entirely different from
those existing later, and at the time
Of my election, and, indeed. at the
time the Hawaiian Islands finally be-
came a part Of the United States, the
organic law becoming effective and
the Hawaiian Islands def
nitely a part Of the United States In
June, 1900, almost year and half
after the pretended letters are dated.
am now sincerely and thoroughly an
and believe in and heartily
support their institutions.
submit that | should have, in fair
ness, definite statement from the
as to what portions OF these
charges they deem material and de-
sire from me an answer, expressing
he further desire to have reasonable
line after learning from the COMMITTEES
heir wishes within which to submit
my answer. Very respectfully.
ROBERT W. WILCOX.
Delegate from the Territory Of Hawaii
in the Congress Of the United
States.
Yesterdays session was devoted
mainly to hearing the testimony and
argument of Mr.. Gear and brief ar
in Mr.. Wilcox's behalf made
by Mr.. Robinson.
In his testimony, Mr.. Gear first stat
ed that Governor Dole's proclamation
,alling the election was issued Septem-
Der 90, 1900. This proclamation called
for the election Of a delegate to Con-
yress. Claiming that this proclamation
was not published for a sufficient
length of time prior to the election.
Mr.. Gear said: ut was issued for q
sufficient length OF time calling for
the election OF Senators and Represen-
Latives, but there was no machinery at
all for electing delegate to Congress"
in response to questions propounded
by Mr.. Robinson, Mr.. Gear stated that
he voted at the election: that the total
number OF votes cast was $500; and
that possibly 1000 citizens did not
vote. He detailed the result OF the
election; and when asked II he was
Parker he said that he
was not representing Parker any more
than the rest of the community. There
was a fund collected for his expenses
here to which a number OF merchants
Of Hawaii subscribed. Asked, " he
considered that President Dole acted
in perfect good faith in issuing the
election proclamation, Mr., Gear said:
Il saw President Dole, and his legal adj
vlsers, and they told me they always
had doubt as to the legality of the
election"
Questioned as to whether objections
were made and whether citizens re-
Trained from voting because they be-
Iieved the election proclamation was
not valid. Mr.. Gear said' Understand
me, my objection is not 9. question as
TO the time of the notice. That ID not
the question in the case at all. II Is
The question whether or not there was
any law at all for the election OF a
delegate, and not that the notice was
not given In time"
Representative Mann OF the commit
tee, said; "As ! understand it, you
claim, on that point that Hawaii is not
entitled to a delegate in Congress at
this time at ALL"
Mr.. Goar-"Yes, SIR"
Representative Mann-"There hay