Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-11
REGRET CARRIERS ACT
Hawaiians Unprepared for His
Resignation.
FIGHT WITH BROWN
EXPRESSIONS OF CONFIDENCE BY
THE BUSINESS MEN.
Disapproval Voiced by the Republican
County Committee-The
General Sentiment
FIGHT WITH BROWN
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Spetiaf correspondence OF Tue star.
HONOLULU. r. H.. June 81. 1905.
An especial topic of this letter is the un-
expected resignation by George r. Carter of
his office as governor Of the territory of
Hawaii. 1t is only FIVE days since the fact
transpred to the public. But 1t appears to
stand as definite fact that he has for
warded his resignation to the President,
and that he Is preparing to follow 1t to
Washington In person tomorrow.
Our community was entirely unprepared
for this action of the governor, although
of late he has come more or less into col
lsion with popular sentiment. General re-
greet is expressed at his having taken this
action, and 1t is regarded entirely unnec-
essary and uncalled for on account of any
reasons known to have occas!oned it.
The Fight With Brown.
1t is doubtless premature to attempt
history of these reasons. They can only be
described as they have manifested them
selves to the public mind. The reason
which seemed to precipitate the governor S
action, or at least to determine him to
make the fact of his resignation public.
was an adverse result of the county cleo
ton. held June 20, in the choice by an over
whelming majority of Arthur w. Brown as
sheriff Of Oahu county. Brown was the
regular ticket. but had been placed there
Under the strong opposition of Governor
Carter to whom he was especially OBJ
noxious
necteG and of high character. certainly in
most respects a lawyer of superior intelli-
gence and business capacity. He had been
appointed perhaps ten years ago by the
then President Dole as marshal of the re-
public of Hawaii. and continued in the
same duties after the organization of the
territory high sheriff thereof. But for
the past few years there has been In the
public mind an increasing sense of laxness
In the enforcement of laws especially
against gambling, well as the Illicit sale
Of liquors. 1t came to be widely felt among
the opponents of vice that the police were
not doing their duty, and were probably In
collision with the infractors of the laws
Governor Carter came to believe that Sher-
IN Brown and his subordinates were sys-
tematically in fault. About q year ago he
quietly secured the services of a supposedly
reliable Pinkerton detective from San Fran
cisco, whose name was Halter Hatter
worked secretly in Honolulu for many
weeks and in due time made reports to the
governor, which accused Sheriff Brown and
his deputies of criminal completely with the
gambling rooms and illicit liquor dens Posi-
tive evidence such as to enable conviction to
be made of crime on the art of the sus-
pected officials was not made public.
The governor. however, proceeded quite
suddenly to remove from office High Sheriff
brown anu several SuDOTOlIidle OiuCldiS. Inns
was perhaps ten months ago. No especial
controversy ensued. Carter had the public
confidence. and was supposed to have hao
reason for his action. There seems, how
ever, gradually to have arisen a belief that
he was MIXED by Detective Halter whose
name finally became rather a by-word on
Honolulu streets. This tendency was In
creased by Hatter's failure to make good
his charges brought against various Of
tenders arrested later through his agency.
ro,.,x,, cor Char;pp
At any rate by the time that the county
election campaign was at hand Brown
seems to have become in a good degree
reinstated in public confidence. and SYM
pathy to have been felt for him as a man
| misjudged. Many undeniably good men,
including ex-Goy. Dole, have taken his
part. In spite of his removal by the gov
ernor for alleged fault, he received the
nomination on the republican ticket for
practically the same office at the head OF
the Oaku police system. The local Civic
Federation. which makes 1t a chief part
of its business to oppose unit political
nominations named as opposing candi-
date William Henry, who was Browns
successor in office.
But the popular sentiment was clear,
and Brown was chosen county sheriff by
an overwhelming majority, although two
other republican nominations were de-
feated which the Civic Federation had
| marked down. 1t is true that Brown re-
ceived the active support OF the corrupt
classes. but he was also supported by
quite a number of very best citizens, who
believed his former removal from office to
have been unjust
Effect of Browns Election.
A few days previous to the election Gov.
Carter published strongly written letter
denouncing Browns character an OFF,
cial and assigning a number of stringent
reasons why he was removed from Office.
None of these, however, were such def
mite and specific charges as could be pre-
cisely laid hold of, and Browns rejoinder
denied and derided them. Three days
later the public vote sided with Brown,
although considerable body of our best
citizens voted against him. 1t would
| seem inevitable that the governor should
feel much chagrined at the strong public
and party support thus given to the man
whom he had actively opposed and de-
nounced, necessarily constituting 1t as the
party's condemnation OF his act in re-
moving him from office. 1t certainly
placed the governor in painful position.
1t was, perhaps, the last straw
AS this expression implies, there had
previously been continued series of col
lisions between the governor and men Of
the republican party. especially those in
the Legislature. Several bills of theirs
were vetoed by the governor, and then
passed over his veto. This was notably
the case with the county act itself, which
was the chief measure of the session AL
though before the election last year the
governor had, in touring the country,
warmly supported the project Of county
government, then very popular, he lat
terly became convinced that 1t was high
ly inexpedient. sharing therein the pre-
vailing sense of the business community.
But the legislature had been elected on
most distinct pledges to pass a county act,
and did SO, one having been previously
prepared with great care.
Collisions With Legislature.
1t was the governors expression that
the county act was a gold brick" mean
ing that the people were deceived in ex-
pecting from it valuable advantages,
whereas 1t would prove a source Of much
misfortune. In this l believe that our
business people very generally concur
with him. expecting that 1t will prove UNI
duly expensive and inconvenient But all
this brought the governor into chronic
collision with the legislature and with
the republican party organization. all Of
which has worn upon his comfort and
temper not being naturally patient of OPP
position.
He Is understood to have felt especially