Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-26
PROTESTFROM HAWAII
Sentiment Against a National
Lazatetto There.
REPURTTHANN A GTTVE
ACTIVE
LETTER SENT TO SENATOR HAN
MA ON THE SUBJECT.
Recent Campaign Based Largely on
the Molokai Issue and
Wilcox Defeated.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

opSClhA Correspondence or Inc Evening Quar-.
HONOLULU, TIL. January IS. 1908.
The republican territorial central commit
tee of Hawaii and other organizations in the
territory, as well as private citizens are fol-
lowing up their cable protests against the
leprosy recommendation Of the Senate COM
mission on Hawaii with letters giving the
protests more fully. Letters are going for
ward by every mail to members Of Congress
and other influential men who, It is hoped,
will help Hawaii to defeat the scheme to
make the leper settlement on Molokai a
national lazar house. The following is a
letter which the republican committee has
sent to Senator Mark Hanna, as chairman
OF the republican national committee, and
1t Is sample of the Hawaiian statements
Of the case:
The statement has been cabled here from
Washington that those United States SEN
ators who recently visited the territory of
Hawaii as commission to Investigate and
report to the Senate upon affairs and con-
ditions In these islands have recommended
that all the lepers now on the Island of
Molokaf should be placed under control Of
the federal Treasury Department; also that
all lepers now on, the mainland of the
United States should be transported to Mo-
lokai for treatment, under the same control,
with the lepers of Hawaii
80 strongly do we feel upon this subject
that our secretary was directed to send you
the following cablegram on the Sth instant:
"'Republfcan organizations protest against
federal supervision and transfer of lepers
from mainland. We insist on caring for our
own afflicted. 1t Is our privilege and duty.
Republican party's pledge to this policy won
last election
Opposed by All.
Eve are now directed by both the execu-
tive and central committees of the republi-
can party in the territory of Hawaii to in
form you that the adoption of any such
policy Is strongly opposed by our people as
whole also that 1t would be detrimental
to republican interests in this territory and
would at once lose for the party that po-
litical control which 1t has so recently Sc
cured. and mainly upon this very issue.
The lepers themselves are opposed to
federal control of the settlement now es
tablished at Molekai. They are averse to
being thrown into communication with
strangers, owing to their unfortunate con-
dttton due to the nature of the disease from
which they are suffering They are not
like white men. Their habits. food and
mode of living are different and these
would first have, to be studied by federal
officials coming In contact with them be-
fore any good epuldrpossibly' result from
the change suggested.
"It. is extremely doubtful, moreover,
whether any benefits could be accomplished
by placing the leperssof Hawaii under fed
eral control. as reference would then be
made to Washington in any cases of COM
plant and the long distance would preclude
the possibility OF prompt attention to their
needs and wants. Control from a distance
would work hardship upon them
The admission of lepers from all parts of
the United States, many Of whom are Chi
nese. Porto Ricans and Norwegians. would
be one Of the most Objectionable features
nro nf
strangers. the lepers of Hawaii would
shrink from sudden contact with hundreds
OF other unfortunates whom they had never
seen or known. and who could not even
speak their own language.
Islands Care for Their Own.
Heretofore 1t has been source Of pride
to the government of these islands to fur
nish proper care. comforts and medical at
tention for their unfortunate fellow-citizens.
They have always been regarded as SUBJ
1ect for local control. and the pride and re-
sponsibility of the people In performing this
duty compels desire to improve their
health and eradicate the disease.
while Hawaiians will always be glad to
secure assistance in the study and cure Of
this disease land 1t is our hope to eventu-
ally clear these beautiful islands of all
traces of the diseased we are strongly op-
posed to the permanent establishment of
lazaretto On Molokai, which would make
this territory forever known as the leper
colony OF America Such a course would
be detrimental to every social and business
interest. 1t would injure the sale OF our
products and prevent visits from strangers
who would hesitate to include a leper COL
ony in their holiday itinerary.
This entire question was fought out in
the recent political campaign In this terri
tory. 1t was the main issue. The present
delegate to Congress. Robert W. Wilcox,
was defeated because he had introduced a
bill in the House of Representatives EN-
bOdying the same ideas as the United States
Senate commission. Prince Kuhio, the re-
publican candidate for delegate, was elect
ed because he opposed the Wilcox idea, and
because he promised to use his efforts to
maintain local control of our local trouble
In this he was supported by the Hawaiian
voters and secured the remarkable majority
over Wilcox of nearly 1000 votes out Of
total Of II 800 votesscast at the polls.
1T was unfortunate that the Senate COM
mission was unable to personally visit Molo-
kai. to see what is done there by our local
board Of health. and to learn the wishes of
the patients directly from themselves at
their own sanitariunn. -5