Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
MAJOR HAWKES. LETTER
HE REITERATEs HIS CHARGES
AGAINST Col. dHErsrASD.
Communication to the Secre-
t"ry Of War ON the
Subject.

Major E. L. Hawkes., formerly Of the vol
unteer army and now a resident Of this
city, has addressed another letter to the
Secretary of Warm regard to the charges
recently filed by him at the War Depart
ment against Col. Heistand, A. A. G.. and
other officers of the army and officials OF
the War Department in connection with an
alleged combination to control the hemp
industry Of the Philippines. In his last
communication Major Hawkes. includes a
clipping from The Evening Star of Satur
day, December % last, in which Secretary
Root is represented as saying that Major
Hawkes. charges were scarcely worthy OF
credence for the reason that if true they
showed that he Qawkes) tried to get into
a corrupt combination to control the hemp
industry, and if false he was guilty of d
malicious attempt to injure an innocent
man."
The Secretary was represented as saying
mat although the charges were not taken
seriously at the War Department they
nevertheless would be referred to Col Hell
stand for statement. The Secretary was
also represented as having said that he or
dered the dismissal of Hawkes. from his po-
stion in the Philippine customs service last
spring on the discovery that he was making
what was regarded as a corrupt use of his
Sition.
Mr. Hawkes. sent the above clipping to
Secretary Root on the 4th instant and asked
the Secretary whether he was correctly
quoted in the publication in question
Mrj. Hawkes. Subsequent Letter.
In a subsequent letter to the Secretary Of
War, dated January 4, Maj. Hawkes. calls
attention to his previous letter and says
that no denial of The Stars publication has
been received by him. Continuing, he says:
Replying to the grave charges said to
have been made by you, and quoted above.
do not think that the honorable Secretary
would have fallen into the error of stating
the cause of my dismissal had he consult
ed the records in the case, which are as
follows:
"Appointed Marcn l. 1900 Left Wash
ington March S. Sailed from San Fran
cisco on United States transport Meade
March II. Arrived at Manila April 16. AS
signed to duty at lloilo April IS Sailel
for Iloilo on transport Indiana April %
Arrived at Iloilo. p l., May I. and imme-
diately reported for duty. On May Il Off
cial copy of your order revoking my APP
pontmenf as inspector of customs was
handed me, dated War Department, Wash
lnSton. ID. G., May >, 1890 or two days
before reaching my station. How could L
nave made corrupt use of my position?
AS to the charges preferred against Col.
Heistand not being worthy of credence. l
Will simply say they true,-or Adiutant
General Corbin, Assistant Secretary Metkle-
john, Governor Allen and Judge Boyd mis-
state the facts as to their connection with
the proposed hemp company.
Was a Private Citizen.
AS to your further statement that ! am
placed in most unenviable position. the
facts are, / wasaa private citizen at the
time l was asked to. organize a hemp and
cordage company by assistant Adjutant
General Heistana, ana in accepting the
proposition to organize said company was
purely within my rights. No understand
ing was ever reached that l should manage
or control said company.
'If the honorable Secretary of War Will
tell the true Reason way i was not wanted
in the Philippine custom service and have
these reasons indorscdf. by his friend. Mr..
Charles r. Flint. Flint, Eddy & Co,
who are among the largest importers and
exporters Of the Philippine Islands, it would
be interesting reading for the general pub
lie