The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-05-25
THE SENATE.

A message from the Governor on the
trouble at Lahaina was read immedi-
ately after the opening of the Senate
Yesterday morning. 1t was as fol-
lows:
A message to the Legislature of the
Territory of Hawaii:
A disturbance of the public peace has
occurred on the Island of Maui of
serious character. The local police force
was entirely inadequate to cope with
the large number of men involved. The
Sheriff of Maui used his authority I'M
der the civil law, and swore in as large
a number of deputy sheriffs as was
possible, but even then he found him
self unable to maintain law and order,
and protect property from destruction
by the thousand or more strikers at
Lahaina. The Sheriff called on the
Captain of Company I of the Terri
torial Militia, stationed at Waikiki,
for assistance. Captain Bal very prop
erly referred him to his superior officer,
at Honolulu, and evidently suggested
that in possibility the Sheriff might
still be able to meet the situation with
the extra deputies he had sworn in.
Further trouble occurring, the Sheriff
again appealed for assistance, on the
ground that, with the extra deputies,
he was unable to handle the situation.
On the theory that prevention was bet
ter than cure, Captain Bal finally,
sometime after midnight, concluded to
call out the troops Orders were is
sued at i a. M, and two and one-half
hours later the troops left Waikiki for
Lahaina, arriving there about sSFen
in the morning, Captain Bal sending
the following wireless message:
80 Col. j. w. Jones, Com. LIST Reg, n.
G.. H., Honolulu:
Riot occurring among japanese Ia
borers Lahaina plantation. At request
of Sheriff Baldwin, / brought Company
I to Lahaina. Will await instructions
from YOU as to course of action to be
pursued. Wire answer as soon as pos
sible.
''CAPT. w. E. BAL,
tCom. Co. I, Ist Reg, n. G. H."
To which Col. Jones sent the follow
ing reply:
"Capt. VIM. Bal. Lahaina:
:" Remain at Lahaina until further
orders from me or Sheriff Baldwin. Do
nothing, except upon request in writ
ing from Sheriff Baldwin. Upon re-
ceivingl such request, render all assist
ance which your reason and good judg-
ment dictates. Be extremely careful
that none of your men go further than
is required by the request of the Sher-
iff, and see that they do not them
selves commit any act which would
tend to provoke overt acts on the part
of the strikers
Captain Balls report shows that on
his arrival he found the strikers in an
ugly mood, out that they soon realized
the militia was there to prevent fur
Their mischie., and Immediately broke
up into small groups, and had main
tanned sullen, though peaceful atti-
tude throughout the day. At the time
OF reportlng-6 p. m. Saturday, May
2Oth-he hoped there would be no fur
ther violence.
On Sunday morning 1t is evident the
strikers attacked the house occupied by
| japanese contractor, and the police
authorities, in attempting to protect
either the property or the contractor,
were fired on by the strikers, and in
returning the fire killed one striker,
and wounded two.
During the morning of the 2Ist
request for further assistance from
Honolulu was made by the Sheriff Re
turn messages were sent, inquiring in
| to the details, and the necessity for
the same, in response to which came
| the information as to the actual clash
! of forces and loss of life. Thereupon
| at the request of the High Sheriff,
ordered that q company of the local
| militia be detailed to accompany the
| High Sheriff and such police officers as
| he could gather together to be taken
at once to Lahaina. The steamer XII
| nau left Honolulu at 4 D. m. with Com
| pany F, the High Sheriff, and such po-
lice officers as he was able to collect.
| and representatives of the plantations.
This incident brings the community
| 10 realization of the need of a Ter
| ritoriai militia. Organized mobs can
| only he met by trained and drilled
militia. The quick response and good
| Indictment shown by the Waikiki mill
Z,