New-York tribune., 1901-09-05
FIGHT AGAINST GOV DOLE.
JUDGE HUMPHREYS TRYING TO OVER
THROW THE PRESENT GOVERN
MENT OF HAWAII
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuyE.I

charges preferred against him by the Bar Asso-
citation Of Hawaii has created a decided sensa-
ton in Washington and has given rise to con-
siderable speculation in official circles as TO
what action the President will take his re-
turn should Attorney-General Knox's report vim
dcate the accused jurist. 1t is popularity in
ferred that vindcation of Judge Humphreys
would be tantamount TO a condemnation by the
Department of Justice of the whole Dole govern
ment at Honolulu. Force is given=to this view
of the case by the aggressive attitude assumed
by Judge Humphreys since he presented his de-
fence TO the Attorney General with such an
elaboration of detail accompanied by counter
charges against various appOintees of Governor
Dole. and the Governor himself. II he should
be vindicated by Attorney-General Knox 1t is
not doubted that Judge Humphreys would make
a direct and forcibe appeal to the President for
the immediate removal of Governor Dole. Judge
Humphreys is not a candidate for the governor
ship. declaring that his sole desire is TO remain
on the bench of the new Territory and from this
responsible position assist in establishing Amer
lean government in the islands, and in thorough
" inculcating in the minds of the cOnglomerate
population of Hawaii correct ideas of the insti-
tutons of this country. Whom he would urge TO
succeed Governor Dole is not known. If, indeed,
he has any candidate for the place, although 1t
is known that United States Judge Morris NJ
lar elements that supporting Judge Hum
phreys in his fight against the Dole government.
II is also known that Judge Estee has aroused
the active hostility of Governor Dole and the
Governors partisans by having pursued in large
measure the judicial course followed with such
determination by Judge Humphreys. Al the
same time il is known that the President has the
utmost confidence in the capacity and proolty
of Governor Dole and it is considered highly
alra fbA EIID
action against the Governor which he will prob
ably be asked TO take in the event of the Vindl-
catiGn of Judge Humphreys. 1t Is generally
thought that the whole matter will be held IN
allegiance until Congress meets. Then II the
President is not satisfied with the situation IN
the islands he may ask Congress for authority
to appoint a special commission 70 investigate
the matter carefully. and make recommeada-
ton him.
JUDGE HUMPHREYS STATES HIS CASE
Judge Humphreys to-day for the first time
since coming to Washington broke his long 81
Ience and talked freely to a Tribune representa-
tive for publication.
7 have thought it best" he said, Ito say
nothing for publication until my defence was
laid before the Attorney-Cieneral Now that this
has been done I feel that longer silence on my
part would be a grave injustice TO the majority
Of the people of Hawaii as we'll as myself do
not attempt TO conceal the fact that my trounle
is only an outcropping of the struggle between
the executive and judicial departments OF the
Hawaiian territorial government Ever since
the new order of things went into effect In the
islands there has been trouble between the Dole
administration and the courts. The chief. and l
may say the sole. cause of the strained relations
is that the President saw fit 10 appoint 10 the
bench men others than those recommended BY
the Dole crowd. This group by the way, rep
resents the missionary element nearly all OF
whom are rich by reason Of the foresight OF
their pious ancestors in getting possession OF
much of the most valuable property on the ISL
ands while they were teaching the gentle and
improvident aboriginese the precepts Of Christi
antiy OF course. the descendants OF the pious
folks of early days are called missionaries now
only for the sake of convenience don't mean
by this that they any worse as a class In a
moral sense than are the people OF the average
run Nor are they any better I do mean to
say, however that the missionary element in
way are a drawback to the material and social
development of Hawaii by reason OF the fact
that by their heavy holdings in the islands they
naturally desire to monOpolize the business and
otherwise direct the affairs Of the islands IN
their own way.
ITO anybody acquainted with the history OF
my incumbency OF the bench at Honolulu II Is
evident that from the first Governor Dole ana
his appointees have studiously endeaNofed l"
beIittle and discredit the court established by
Congress- and over which the President chose
me 10 preside. When / have imposed fines and
sentences Of imprisonment upon partsans OF the
Dole cabal for transgressing the laws, my JudS-
ment was scarcely recorded before the Governor
nullifed my acts by pardOning those upon whom
] inflicted punishment. The secret or the
charges preferred to secure my removal is that
I applied To the Department Of Justice at Wash
ington to come here and make A full eXpiana-
ton of the situation and nv enemies sought
TO discredit me and break the force Of my mis-
sion by getting their charges 10 Washington
ahead Of my arrival
CONFLICT OF COURT AND GOVERNOR.
Judge Humphreys then discussed other phases
Of Hawaiian politics That the appointment Of
Governor Dole a mistake" said he, was
shown by the result of the first election on the
islands for members of the Legislature. An over
wheIming majority of both houses uncom-
promisingly hostile to the Dole administration.
and the consequence was the Governors utter
inability to control the legislature. Near the
close of the regular session. when joint com
mittee OF the two houses officially called on the
Governor to ask II he had any more recon-
mendations to make, he declared that bribery
had been rampant in the Legislature, and that
he had official information with which 10 sup
port this serious charge. His newspaper organ
at Honolulu, knowing that short time pre-
viously had announced from the bench that l
did not intend TO call another grand jury soon
because Of the congested condition of my civil
docket. taunted me with the declaration that
would not summon a grand jury and have the
charges of bribery against the legislature in
vestigated. / forthwith empanelled a grand
jury however, and instructed il to searchingly
investigate these charges. When Governor Dole
and various of his appontees were summoned
by the grand jury to give evidence, so that IN
dictments for bribery. which they had alleged
against the legislature, could be returned each
in turn denied that he knew anything. And so
Tna affn Of he RI plAa- mt