The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-09-22
THE CLOSING OF lwILgI.

There has been a good deal of mis-
information and a good deal OF mis-
representation concerning the rise ard
fall Of the Iwilei stockade People
here know who was responsible for its
existence. and to whom belongs the
credit OF its extirpation. but for the
information OF those abroad The Re
publican viii make a statement OF the
record facts.
The Act to Mitigate the Evils and
Diseases Arising from Prostitution"
was passed prior to the revolution
which resulted in the establishment of
the Republic. That Act did not IL
cense the keeping of bawdy houses at
IwiIeI. or elsewhere. and neither I'M
der the Kingdom. nor under the Re
public was any such construction
placed upon it. In May. 1899. under
the administration of Governor Dole
lease was obtained from John Ena of
about half an acre of land opposite
Kaumakapili chapel. the Iwilei stock
ade and buildings were erected ami
the business" of the place begun.
The women occupying it were accord
ed police protection and exempted
from arrest and prosecution This was
done under the pretext that the Act
to Mitigate operated as a license to
maintain a bawdy house, and over two
hundred fallen women availei them
selves OF the opportunity thus offered
to safely ply their vocation.
It is not intended to reiterate here
the oft-repeated tale of the horrors OF
the Iwilei slave pen. They were such
as speedily provoked general com
ment from abroad and melted the eff
forts at home OF leading citizens TO
i'd Honolulu of her public disgrace.
The matter was brought to the atten-
ton of a Territorial Grand Jury who
reported: The condition of the
premises and general management.
which is conducted under the super
Isl of the Police Department and
the Board of Health, is as satisfae
tory as could be expected. provided
his shameless vocation must be toler-
ated as a necessary evil" In Febru-
Try. 1901. Judge Humphreys again
allied the matter TO the attention OF
Territorial Grand Jury. and again it
sas ignored and no indictments found.
April. 1901, Judge Estee brought
the horrors OF Iwilei to the attention
Of the United States Grand Jury. and
suggested that the business conducted
there was in violation of three acts OF
Congress. But the United States
Grand Jury took no action.
These attempts to involve the Grim
NAL process of both Territorial and
Federal Courts having failed. the as
ISOLATED clergymen of Honolulu took
the matter in hand Such members OF
the local bar as were consulted were
either the attorneys of those financial
y interested in the profits of Iwilei.
0r they entertained such relations to-
ward Governor Dole and his appointees
IS made them unwilling to engage in
war against the slave pen. and the
ministers received no encouragement
to proceed. At this juncture Mr.
Thomas Fitch arrived in Honolulu
with the purpose OF engaging in law
practice. He was known personally
TO several members of the Ministerial
Union. and being free from. the COM
olications and embarrassments which
-estricted the action or influenced the
opinion OF lawyers of long residence
L WIS felt that he was peculiarly fit
ed for the task Of attempting the
destruction Of the stockade. He was
eonsulted BY the clergyman and &C
septed a retainer, 1t is fair to him
md to others 10 say that 1t was purely
\ matter OF business with him. and
that he had no personal feeling against
Governor Dole or his administration
After examination Mr.. Fitch reported
to his employers that no results could
be expected from a prosecution in the
Circuit Court Of either the cwner.
sessees or inmates Of Iwiiei. that un-
der the peculiar Hawaiian Law II was
IN the power Of the Attorney General
to dismiss prosecutions without the
consent Of the Court. and that even
in the improbable event of conviction.
and a sentence ordering the nuisance
TO be ahated. the High Sherif could
safely defy the Court, for al order to
abate would give him no right 70 de-
stroy furniture. or close rooms which
might be used for Illegitimafe pur-
poses
Nr. Fitch was Of the opinion that
1.-THE Edmnnas Act might be used to so