Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-06-12
THR WILCOX AFFAIR.

The summary dismissal of Secretary
Charles Wilcox by the Board of Health
after his ten years of what has been so
far as known. satisfactory service. has
caused protests OF Indignation from
Mr.. Wilcox's many friends.
The Bulletin has maintained for
every government department the
right to employ men in whom the re-
sponsible departmental head has con-
fidence. The method followed by the
Health Board, however, in dealing
line with the more polite and accept
able course established in other de-
partments where changes have been
made, and has laid the Board open ia
sharp criticism and unfortunate i'll will
at time when the situation above all
things calls for a spirit of cooperation
all along the line.
The Board Is charged with being ac'
tiiated by feelings of spite and holding
the Secretary responsible for legisla-
tive action in refusing appropriations
for Board officers having business rela.
tons with Board members. All OF
which is denied individually and sew.
orally by the Board. And any respon-
sibility for legislative action Is denied
with equal positiveness by Mr.. Wilcox
II Is also denied by the Board that II
had anyone slated for the vacant
position or was actuated by any other
causes than its view of the good OF
the service
II, ash stated by contemporary, Mr..
Wilcox furnished information to :he
Legislature, he did no more than the
duties of his position called for and no
more than he has done during previous
legislative sessions. Certainly there Is
no reason why such action on his part
has been marked up against him. Fur
thermore, 1t does not appear that the
Board gave Mr.. Wilcox any opportup-
ity to deny or affirm rumors regarding
his efforts to do up the Board"
As to Secretary WilcoX's political
standing in the Republican party, the
attempt of the Advertiser to disGredi,
him are decidedly laughable. Charles
Wilcox Is a member of the Republican
Territorial committee and has the full
confidence of the organization. He was
active in politics at the primaries and
In the campaign. He was a faithful
and trusted worker and organizer and
fought the campaign through to a
finish. The only antagonsm he Great
ed was among those less successful. It
Is a matter of record that every cam
paign worker secured through Mr.. Will
cox's effort stayed with the party from
first to last. II Is also a matter OF
record that the workers gathered in by
opponents of Mr.. Wilcox In the Sec
ond precinct primaries, went over to
the opposition party Immediately the
campaign was on. Notable among this
number was the Rev. Kekipi who work.
ed I'm the Republican primaries for
and voted with the then so-called mis-
,iionary faction. Kekipi afterward ap.
peared on the stump as an Independent
exhorter, being among the speakers at
the big Independent rally held in the
ruins of the Kaumakapii church the
night before the election. Rev. Kekipi
has a right to associate himself with
whatever party he sees fit. but the men
now attacking Mr.. Wlicox's political
loyalty will do well to sing low and
look well to the stability of their own
following.
The removal of Mr.. Wilcox from thu
secretaryship of the Health Board will
not alter the confidence placed in him
by his friends, any more than the resig-
nation Of Rowell and Shaw, or the fail.