The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-06-09
STAND BY
ANDREWS
Hilo Writers in
Defense Of
Sheriff.


which is bitterly opposed to him politi
cally admits that the charges of dis
honesty made by irresponsible legisla.
tors are baseless. The Tribune says
That the official conduct of Sheriff
Andrews provoked fusilade OF attack
from the members Of the Legislature or
the floor is not surprising to people or
this island. familiar with the methods
of the Gar
The bitterest enemies of the Sheriff
are slow to charge him with outright
dishonesty. Few believe he would mis-
appropriate cent or misrepresent a
fact. No one will question his indefa-
tigable industry or his zeal in the dis
charge of his public duties. The cutlery
of condemnation at Honolulu probably
affects Sheriff Andrews as much as wa
ter affects a duck when poured upon
its back. Sheriff Andrews has no APP
probation of criticism. He is as in
vulnerable to argument and reason as
| though he were an automaton of gutta
percha.
With all his faults he Is the most in
| teresting man in official life in Hawaii.
He is "a surviving relic, as Speaker
Beckley said, of the best government
on earth" He continues the methods
which in the old days made every
policeman repository of executive,
judicial and legislative power. Sheriff
Andrews has this same old theory of
his office and with monumental good
faith puts 1t into practice. II Legisla-
lature refuses to grant Andrews what he
wants, he gets what he wants anyway.
If the courts DEGREES do not suit the
Sheriff, he pays no attention to them.
If the Governor makes suggestions.
they are complied with If it suits the
Gear.
These remarks are made not in a
criticizing spirit. We would be truthful
and accurate. An unbiased and well
drawn Characterization of the official
personality of Sheriff Andrews would
make interesting reading even to people
who have never heard of Hawaii
One of his heaviest fortresses of de-
Tense from attack is the theory that a
good intention sanctifies the deed. A
proper motive eXonerates an official of
all culpability in mistakes that may &C.
cur along his official path. It's another
way of saying 1.-The end justifies the
means" which Is doctrine that has no
standing in America and which was the
| chief working theory of the best gov
eminent on EARTH" of which Sheriff
Andrews Is relic.
This paper does not believe that an
| investigation of the sheriff's office
| would reveal any criminal dereliction
upon which could be based charges of
embezzlement, or charges of a like
| fibre. There would however most likely
be found a looseness of administration
which would scandalize any similar de-
partment in the States. But it's the
old time looseness of the best govern
ment on earth" and what are you going
to do about it?
COURTS INVESTIGATION.
The Hilo Herald echoes Sheriff An
drews wishes when it demands that
the lightly uttered charges be thorough
ly Investigated. The Herald says:
The proposed investigation into the
administration of the affairs of the
Sheriff's office should not be allowed to
be mere proposal. There are some
members of the Legislature who are
serving their first term and who are not
familiar with previous Investigations of
this same charge. Sheriff Andrews Is
man of integrity and one who would
not stoop to dishonesty in the conduct
of personal or public affairs. The sys-
TEN adopted, and about which there
has been so much complaint, was mani
ifestly bad. The past tense Is used for
the reason that the Objectionable fea-
ture has not been in vogue since last
March. But IL blame Is to be placed for
the existence OF 1t, 1t should be upon
the shoulders of a narrow minded Leg
islature rather than upon Sheriff An
drews. The subject has been investi-
gated in the past by the Legislature,
the Attorney Generals department, the
Auditor and the High Sheriff and was
found to be the only way out OF a con-
dition which was put into existence by
the failure of the Legislature to grant
an appropriation sufficiently large to al
low this island enough money for an in
cidental fund. The present Legislature
In attacking the Sheriff of Hawaii has
made no allowance for any defence that
may be submitted-men with a griev-
ance, men who have been discharged,
or who should be discharged from the
force have made statements to mem
bers and they have been accepted as
gospel. Fernandez, one of the leading
Knockers, retired from the Sheriff's
force for reasons entirely foreign to
those stated by him to the committee
and the evidence is on file to prove
1t. A Honolulu paper expresses the
opinion that Sheriff Andrews has out
lived his usefulness without giving the
facts upon which 1t bases the opinion.
People who know, Sheriff Andrews are
satisfied with his administration and
want him continued in office; it's the
men who do not know him, men whose
worth TO the community could be writ
ten on the nail of the little finger. who
howl and howl and howl Turn the ras-
cal out"
THUMB STRINGING STORY DIS
PUTED.