The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-27
CHINESE
IN JANGLE
The United Society
May be in a
Fight.
LAST ELECTION
DECLARED VOID
Ruling Members Nay Decide TO
Battle for Offices-OId Board
May Be Revived.

Upon the decision of a meeting of
the leading merchants of the Chinese
colony will depend whether or not the
officers of the United Chinese Society,
whose tenure Treasurer Wright decides
is imperfect. will make a legal fight for
place. In other words, they want to
know whether or not they have any
backing before they go into the ring.
Treasurer Wright. in the exercise of
legal authority over the society. last
Saturday ordered that there be held
another meeting for the purpose of
electing officers, on the ground that the
| last meeting was not in accord with
| the law. This decision was reached
after long consultation and hearing.
The protestants against the methods
which have, been ruling in the past
were present, and through their attor-
ney, L. A. Andrews, presented the facts
of the meeting. They showed that
there was no record of the men who
had voted being members of the socie-
ty. and that the trustees were not le-
gally chosen.
| Attorney General Dole had rendered
an opinion recommending non-interfer-
ence but Treasurer Wright found in
the charter of the society a clause CIV
ing him, or his predecessor. the Minis
| ter of the Interior, the right to veto
any election of officers when the off,
Gals were not suitable men in his
opinion. This ives the clause which he
followed in making his decision that
the recent election was void, as indi-
Gated in his letter printed below.
| When the decision was made there
was CONSERVATION in the camp OF the
Bow Wongs, and confidence in that of
the supporters of the Consul in the
society. Possession is nine points. and
the attorneys for the majority party,
Atkinson & Judd, told the officials that
there seemed reason for their seeing
whether or not the merchants would
stand behind them, and if so, to make
a fight for the control. This seemed TO
be the feeling of the members of the
official body and it was decided yes
terday afternoon that either THURSDAY
or Friday of this week there should be
a meeting of the Chinese to give their
decision, which shall determine the
matter.
! AS the matter now stands the affairs
of the society are in a terrible tangle,
for the reason that there is no record
of any new trustees being elected for
the purpose of keeping the board filled,
or of the resignation of the old officials.
This, it is held, on the part of the Con-
suPs party, turns back the affairs to
the hands of the trainers of the society
seventeen years ago. Should this be
done there will be found to be only
twelve of the original fifteen men in the
! country. The others have gone before
| TO China. The survivors are Goo Kim,
the original vice president, who would
be the head; c. Wal MIN, who would
be treasurer. and Lii Cheung, who
would be secretary. with Vim Quon,
Loo Chit Sam, Wong Chun, wong
Leong Wong kwock, Lum Fat, Y
Amin. Ho Sun and L. Ahlo. These
trustees have given over the control
of the society long ago.
The officers Of the society elected re-
lcently, with their affiliations, as given
by one of them, are: c. K. Al, Bow
i Wong. vice president; Y. Kee Kim, IN
known, secretary; Low Tung, Bow
Wong, assistant secretary; Chun kang
Hon, treasurer; Ho Fon. assistant
treasurer; Wong Chez, none OF whom
are Bow Wongs. The officers say this
disproves that it is a Bow Wong raid
on the society.
| The facts at the bottom OF the aHalr
are that there grew up many years
ago a peculiar style Of doing business
IN the society. When 1t became haru
to get a quorum of the old trustees IL
was the custom Of Goo Kim to ask
some of the other merchants to come
in and help at the society's work. Later
rresidents took the same course. ana as
there were TO records made, there was
coon membership which was pecu-
liar AS the older men abandoned the
work the younger ones took 1t up anu
there the matter lies. The decision tlaI
the course Of Good Kim followed theSe
yaare was wrong, upsets the entire
o4ssirs of the society, and there must
10 either a reversion to the old trus-
tees. or a hard fight 70 establish a ineir-
bership roll, from which voters may
ne known. It Is alleged resolution
was passed instructing Goo Kim 10
have the charter so amended that there
could be indefinite membership. some
Years ago. but nothing was done.
or the old trustees there is a major
itv. it is said, who favor the side OF
the Consul against the Bow Wongs.
Rut IT is believed that even If this Is
the case there must be established
some rule for the admission OF MEM
hers and then the young men will
take possession OF the society. The
property of the society is in the names