The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-16
WILCOX ANSWERS CHARGE
HE DENIES ANY TREASONABLE
INTENTION.
Admits Writing the Letters But Before
Territorial Act was Passed-Did Not
Understand American Institutions

House committee en- elections No. 1 has
decided to take cognizance of the petit
tions 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 the matter
should be cleared up by inquiry, and Il
was arranged to take Gears testimony
and that of Wilcox.
Wilcox informed the committee that
he would have his answer to the
charges ready by 10 o'clock tomorrow
taken until then.
When the hearing began at o'clock
Delegate Wilcox and his chief accuser,
George ID. Gear, who has resided in
Hawaii for the last two years were
present. Chairman Taylor of Ohio ask
ed wilcox If he had read the charges
The Delegate replied in the Affirmative
Taylor said the portions relating "a
WilcoX's marriage would be passed
over and then asked the direct question
whether the Delegate had written the
letters specified in the charges. Before
ne could reply several members inter-
Vehed and asked if-Wilcox desired the
peneht of counsel, whether he had made
FORMAL answer and whether he had
seen the charges. Taylor explained
lhat wilcox had gone over the charges
and had expressed willingness to reply
to them. NPI'
VIII answer in a proper way" as
serted the Hawaiian, in broken accents.
but l viii do it to the committee and
not before these soreheads coming
here" o'i'''e
The chairman explained that the
hearings would be public and all of
WllcoX's rights would be respected,
WASHINGTON, February S.-The
charges against Delegate Wilcox of Ha-
a
committee on Elections No. l. Wilcox
was present, accompanied by Represen-
tatlVe Robinson of Indiana, who an
peared as his friend and counsel Ro-
plnson stated at the outset that as Will
cox was unfamiliar with the procedure
IA m eIectlon contests, he had consented
10 appear in behalf of the Delegate.
At the afternoon session Representa-
i've Robinson presented the following
speclhc answer of Wilcox to the charges
contained in the letters submitted:
Ihat he CWilcox) is native Hawai-
iani that he shared with the native
people in their loyalty to the fornoar
Queen Liliuokalani during her REIGN
ana was not in sympathy with the
Telgnlng power Immediately succeeding
her reign.
lhat after the annexation of Ha
Wall he did not understood fully the in
Sstltutlons or the feelings of the United
I
When the Congress gave to the people
or Hawaii splendid system of orga
mic laws " 81
Ihat, in common with the people he
at all times, with genuine patriotism
supported the United States and its
INSTITUTIONS and is now and has been a
! loyal supporter of the Constitution
laws and Government of the limited
| States.
he admits that on January 81 1899
/ ana on March 8, 1899, he wrote the LET
ters appearing in the petition: that
/ sald letters were of personal and con-
| iluehtlal nature, and sent to one whom
ne ne supposed was friend and who he
/ lhouSht would not betray his conf
dence. He further says that said Ter.
| ters were written by him under an en-
| TIRE mlSconceptton of the real attitude
Oh the government of the United States
toward the people of Hawaii
Ihat under the laws of the United
states at a fair and free election he
was elected as Delegate from Hawaii
| ana no reason exists or has existed dis
qualifying him."
Inc additional letters written by Will
cox were submitted and he made the
same answer to them. These letters
| were written in 1899 and criticised the
American course in the Philippines.
Gear, the prosecutor. then contended
that the election of Wilcox was ire
guar ana void as the requirements of
the United States statutes were NOT
complied with On being cross -uues-
TONED Gear said he had made speeches
IN Hawaii favoring the election as De-
lesate or Parker, the opponent of Will
cox, ana in these speeches he had not
questioned the right of Hawaii TO have
a Delegate. Gear stated that in VIII
cox speeches he had said he would
restore queen LiliuOkalani When the
witness said Wilcox had Externally
damned the Americans" the Delegate
muttered lie" but was restrained by
MS counsel. After Gear had presented
his evidence he made an extended ar
gument arraigning the Delegate.
During the argument Mann interject.
ed the statement that certain letters
written by eminent public men came
quite as near treason as those Of VIII
cox referring to the Filipinos
Robinson made a brief closing argu.
ment on behalf of Wilcox, severely cri.
tlclsing 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, February 3-Seriou.
as are the charges of reasonable SUP.
port Of Aguinaldo and the moral un.
fitness for a seat in Congress preferred
against Robert Wilcox delegate from
the Islands of Hawaii, no action is
likely to be taken in the direction OF
unseatng him. The reason Is that mer
of all parties fear that the ousting o
wilcox, even If the charges against hin
are sustained would stir up all kinds o
trouble in the new territory far out II
the Pacific. The policy to be followe,
is to let Mr.. Wilcox severely alone botl
during this session and in the Fifty
seventh Congress, to which he has beer
elected.
Wilcox, II is pointed out. represents
the monarchical party of Hawaii hav
ing defeated the Republican and De
mocratic candidates for delegate I,
Congress by a clear majority over boil
He has the following of the Kanakas
the Japanese and the Chinese part o
the population and ii is believed tina
If sent back all these elements woul,
rally around him as a martyr and tur
bulent times perhaps, ensue.
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