The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-10-27
WHEN GEHR
VOUCHED FOR DOLE
A LETTER HE SENT TO SENATOR
FoRAKER's CLERK REGARDING
THE GOVERNORS FAIRNESS.

The letter to Mr.. Alden, Senator
Foraker's clerk, a copy of which A.
c. Gehr sent to Gov. Dole in connection
with the Kohala ditch scheme, as de-
tailed in yesterdays second edition of
the Star, is as follows:
my Dear Mr.. Alden Referring to
the request of Senator Foraker regard
ing the doubt of Senator Burton that
Mr.. Paker and Mr.. McCrosson could OBJ
tain fair treatment in Honolulu from
the officials, because of the late trou
BILE over the governorship and other
matters, I wish to make a further
statement which 1 wish you would
kindly bring to the attention of Sem
ator Foraker In 1899 there was a
serious disagreement over another mat
ter between Governor Dole and my
brother, and the controversy got into
the press of Honolulu through my
brother, who took such a stand that
when 1 went to the islands last year,
l fully expected that Gov. Dole would
oppose the measure before the Ha-
waiian government in which my broth
er and 1 might be interested. After
completing our survey of the Kohala
mountains, we went to Honolulu, and
asked for the license. To my genuine
surprise 1 received the most courteous
treatment from Gov. Dole, who made
an exhaustive examination of our work
and plans. He insisted upon many i'm
portant conditions in the license, to
which we assented, and suggested
others which he thought wise in the
interests of the Territory, but which
/ lot nod ,, 10
they would prevent capital from pro-
noting the enterprise. Afterwards,
when we were opposed by some of the
most influential and wealthy men of
Honolulu who were among his per-
sonal friends and supporters, he still
insisted that with Mr.. Parker we
should have the license, until receipt
of the letter from Mr.. Ryan, Acting
Secretary of the Interior, as no valid
objections had been presented in writ
ing as requested. If the above state
ment is true and / am willing to make
it in writing as well as by word of
mouth, it should be of more value than
a vague insinuation made privately and
not publicly. do not make this state
ment as a self-constituted apologist for
Governor Dole, but 1 make it in de-
Tense of myself, with little influence
here or in Honolulu, against charges
made secretly and by innuendo, to
which 1 have been unable to reply and
1 think that the attitude taken by Gov
Dole in this matter should be deemed
a conclusive reply.
Regarding the attitude of Mr.. Boyd
the land commissioner, simply repeal
: that he told Mr.. McCrosson before he
left for Hawaii, as he has told me
: that as the matter had been left t.
the Territorial officials under the de-
: cision of the Secretary of the Interior
: he would take up the matter just where
it was dropped on receipt of the letter
from Mr. Ryan last fall, and would
consider the application for the license
) as for the joint interests of Parker ano
. Jones. / am satisfied that he would
: prefer that Parker should be interested
: in the worthy enterprise rather than we
should alone do the work AS 1 nov
; know that several members of the
committee have not read the state
ments submitted by me in writing ant
so can not be fully informed of the en-
! tire situation, / most urgently reques
, that no action be taken at the present
time, which without a full examination
of the question, would do me and those
:, interested with me and have expended
large amount of money and time tC
: this work, irreparable harm, and, as
| firmly believe, most serious injustice
which later would be recognized by the
, committee. Very truly yours,
ARTHUR c. GEHR."