The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-02

\ petition asking that Robert W. Will
cox, Delegate in Congress from Hawaii
"be ousted from his seat in Congress and
that the said seat be declared vacant"
was fled with Elections Committee No. 1,
of the House. yesterday by George D. Gear
an attorney. of Honolulu. The petition
makes sundry and diver charges against
Wilcox, and also declares that no law
exists in the Territory of Hawaii for the
election of Delegate
Two letters alleged to have been written
by Wilcox are attached to the petition. The
letters are addressed to DR.. Joseph Losada,
Capt. Marti Burgos, and Senor J. Luna in
trCdLcing Washington friend Of Wilcox.
In one of the letters Wilcox is alleged to
have written:
Gentlemen: This is to introduce to you
friend OF mine who is a very able man
to help you in your cause. What
l read in the newspapers that your cause
seems to be hopely that the United States
would soon recognize the independence Of
your country.
Mr. -- will ba useful ally
to fight for the cause OF the Philippines.
He had always given his useful services
in the cause OF the weaker race against
The aggressive intruders.
One thing is sure that you could re-
sist against any army Of invasion. You
have population of Il COO, eco. and already
a disciplined army of 3G,Oc0, well equipped
with modern arms.
Il am already made up my mind to join
with you in your country against America
in case they insist to ignore the right, the
justice of your cause. | know well my
profession as an artillery officer. / have
no fear of the whole world when | fight
for logitimated cause like yours Be-
tween General Aguinaldos determination
and myself, it would be very little chances
left to the invaded army Of the United
States to conquer your country. Tell Cen
eTal AgunalGo ! am already given my
services for your country. and I am ready
10 obey order to go to your country and
figii for the independence Of your people
and country at shy moment
The other letter. the address of which
Is blank. and alleged to have been written
by Wilcox, says i am thinking of go
ing TO the Philippine Island. and give
my assistance to Aguinaldo against the
iuvaders-tne hypocritical Yankees-the
caTpetbag politician Otis. The
Americans are too hoggish in their un-
derjakings AID they Will make blunders.
III. lighting and destroy United States
influence in tire Far East | would have
glory, honor. ana my work would be ap-
preciated by the Filipinos, by Chineses
and japaneses and Arabs. II is my great
foil; to lose all these chances"
In his petition Mr. Gear states that for
a number of years he has been resident
of the Hawaiian Islands. and was resi-
dent and citizen Of the United States be-
fore the annexation thereof, and was a
duly qualified voter of the Territory of
Hawaii, and voted in the election on the
9Th day OF November, 1900. Mr.. Gear
charges that there existed no law for
or no machinery, or mode, or manner of
holding an election for such Delegate to
Congress under the laws of the Territory
of Hawaii at the time of the calling of
said election. or at the time of such cleo
tion, but that, nevertheless, said election
was held on the Gth day of November, 1900,
and at said election one Robert W Will
cox. candidate of party known as the
Independent Home Rule party. received
the highest number of votes cast for Dele
gate, leading .;.--4-et Parker. candidate
of the Republican party by 263 votes, the
said Samuel Parker receiving the next
highest number OF votes"
Mr.. Gear also charges that Wilcox in
1883, married Gina Sabrero, in Turin.
Italy; that he separated from her and
without a previous divorce on August 20
1895, married Theresa Cartwright There
was no divorce until 1900. He alleges that
in 1888. Wilcox was convicted of treason
against the Republic of Hawaii sentenced
to be hanged, which sentence was com
muted TO thirty-five years Imprisonment;
but subsequently he was pardoned: that
Wilcox in his aGite-election speeches mad4
strong anti-American utterances promis-
inc ha 8 ~
elected.
Mr.. Gear states that before the seating
Of Wilcox as a Delegate from Hawaii he
did as one Of the attorneys for A. n Ke-
pOikai and \. b. Lobenstein both citizens
Of Hawaii and legally qualified voters,
protest against the seating of Wilcox and
he asks that that protest be considered
with The petition.
Delegate Wilcox, when asked if he had
anything to say about the protest and
charges filed against him By Attorney
Gear. smiled and said:
oh we ali have our enemies | think
most everyone will be struck by the fact
that these alleged letters said to have
been written by me should have been sup
pressed for two years when the opposition
might have used them effectively in the
November campaign when | ran as an in
dependent for Delegate TO Congress-
Il did write to a man in Washington by
the name of Caesar C. Moreno. giving him
a letter of introduction to DR.. Joseph Lo-
sada. Capt. Maru Burgos. and Senior ].
Luna who were in Washington at the
time seeking concessions for the Filipinos
from Congress This was before the in
surrectlon in the Philippines broke out
and when everyone believed Congress
would treat the Filipinos the same as the
Porto Eicans, but when the insurrection
in the Philippines broke out Dr.. Joseph
LOsada, Capt. Marti Burgos, and Senior J.
Luna hrrriedly left Washington for fear
they might be cast into prison. and re-
turned 10 their homes via Canada.
Now, as far as the expressions about
the Unired States attitude to the Philip
pines are attributed to me and the criti-
cism I'm alleged to have made, 1 want to
say there is nothing in the correspond
ence which has been given to the press
any more severe than the structures
passed upon the Administration policy
by the leading papers of the country and
certain prominent Republican Senator'S
do not admit the authorship of the al
legged letters, but l do say that we are all
entitled to our opinions
Referring to the statement that there
was no law authorizing the election of
| Delegate to Congress. Delegate Wilcox
said:
1T is rather late to make such state
ment The election in Hawaii was con-
| Quoted under the same law under which all
| the oRicials of the Territory We're elected
| so that il my election was null and void
| then the election OF every official in the
| Territory is the same The statement is