The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-07-26
UP IN ARMS
SAY THEIR NEW vICE-CONSULz
WAS INSULTED.
He and His Wife Compelled to Submit
Maru-white Passengers Escaped

Local Japanese are highly indignant
over what they consider an indignity
put upon their new Nice-Consul s.
Okabe and Mrs. Okabe yesterday by
the quarantine officers. Already steps
have been taken to bring the matter
to the attention of the nroper authOri-
ties and ascertain the reason for the
alleged discrimination against Jap
anese cabin passengers.
When the America Maru arrived yes
terday a suspected case of plague was
discovered aboard her. An eXamina-
ton of the cabin passengers was or
dered According to the statements Of
Mr.. Okabe all of this class of passen-
gers, among whom were himself and
wife, were lined on the deck and there
examined by the physician. In the case
of the white people the most casual
examination was made a courtesy and
consideration which, he says. was not
extended to the japanese cabin passen-
gers. He and his wife were compelled
to go into separate rooms and in. the
presence of a physician to remove por-
tions of their clothing in order to per
nit an examination of their bodies to
be made for any possible evidences OF
plague Mrs. Okabe was compelled to
remove portions of her garments and
to submit to beino examined by a male
physician. After this they were pass
regular cabin passengers.
Mr. Okabe and his wife feel the keen
est resentment over the discrimination
and he says that he considers such n
policy unjust when it singles out the
Japanese and Chinese cabin passengers
and discriminates in favor of the
whites.
A meeting of prominent japanese
was held this morning to consider what
steps should be taken to have some
suitable reparation made to Mr.. ana
Mrs Okabe. The meeting was held at
the office of the Japanese Immigration
bureau and was largely attended. 1t
was decided to place the affair in the
hands of an attorney in order to learn
the proper course to pursue. If the
steamship officers are to blame 1t is
very likely that an action for damages
will be begun against that company,
Dr. Cofer when interviewed on the
matter, deplored the fact that such an
| occurrence had taken place and eN-
pressed himself as most positive that
! the fault lay with the steamship OH
cials. LAS far as the cabin passengers
are concerned" said the doctor, I'VE
! simply take them according to the NUM-
! her on the ships manifest without go
/ ing into the question of nationality. In
: case there should at any time occur the
I necessity of a strict examination or
/ cabin passengers | have made enquiry
/ of DIR. Pratt as to whether there was
not a lady doctor in town who could at
/ tend to the female cases.
1--WE sent three doctors out to the
Maru yesterday in order to facilitate
matters and of course we required from
the steamer people three sets of their
men whose duty it is to collect the pas
sengers in their various groups ready
| for our inspection.
Either Mr.. and Mrs. Okabe, in their
desire to see Honolulu mingled with
the steerage passengers or some mis-
take on the part of the steamer people
must have compelled them to become
mixed in some way with the steerage
segregation.
1--WE are most particular not to show
the slightest discrimination and am
confident that the fault cannot lie with
us | regret exceedingly that such a
contretemps SHOULD have happened"
Mr. Okabe comes here to relieve the
present Vice-Consul r. Tanaka who
has been promoted to the Japanese
vice-consulate at New York city.