The San Francisco call., 1908-05-08
HAWAII MAY PUT
CONSPIRATORS OUT
patriotic League" Believed to
Have Planned Stevens MUIR
der Here, Is Watched
Former Office Holders Also
Thought to Have Sought Life
of Bishop Harris


here by the authorities that Honolulu
is the headquarters for a band of
Korean conspirators. whose plot re-
suited in the assassination of d. w.
Stevens. the Japanese adviser, in San
Francisco. and who had intended to
deal out summary vengeance on
Bishop Harris of the Methodist church
in the orient, on his arrival in San
Francisco recently, their plot being
baffied by knowledge of it leaking out
and timely warning being sent to the
San Francisco authorities.
Bishop Harris passed through Hon
olulu on board the liner Korea. While
here he was interviewed by repre-
sentative of the Honolulu Advertiser
on political conditions in the orient.
Bishop Harris had been warned by
mission workers among the local Ko-
reans not to discuss Korean politics,
but he, talked freely, stating among
other things that he felt the Japanese
occupation OF Korea was the working
of the hand of Providence" for the
lettering Of that country, and that he
intended to call on President Roose-
welt and Secretary Root and make a
report to that effect.
the Advertiser and also in a Japanese
paper enraged the Koreans, the lead
ers among whom are former office
holders in Korea and the ones referred
TO by Bishop Harris as the mischief
makers. These leaders made demand
upon the editor Of the Advertiser for
the name of the writer of the inter-
view, and intimated that all concerned
in the report would be made to suffer.
At the same time 1t was learned that
the Koreans had cabled to their COM
patriots at San Francisco. informing
them of the bishops language here
exactly the same course as they pur-
sued after D. W. Stevens left Homo
lulu and the local press quoted him
as favoring the Japanese occupation of
Korea.
Rev. ]. W. Wadman, who is at the
head OF the Korean mission work in
Hawaii, and who was with Bishop
Harris during the few hours he was
in Honolulu, was also put under sur
veillance by the Korean agitators
alarming his friends, who feared that
he might be held to account for Bishop
Harris utterances
The police and the federal district
attorney took the matter up and it is
possible that there may be deporta-
tion proceedings begun against the
ringleaders of the agitating Koreans.
1t has been learned that a regular
Korean patriotic league is in existence
here, the leaders of which levy a pro
rata assessment upon every Korean
workman, the fund being used for
agitation against Japan.
The article quoting Bishop Harris,
which was the cause Of all the trouble,
is as follows:
Il will make 4 part of my duty to call
while am in Washington and tell them that
from my own knowledge | am convinced that
Prince Ito and Hayashi are in earnest in their
desire TO improve conditions in Korea and are
OF that country"
TO the ASSASSINATION of the late ID. ". Stevens,
VIII whom he was well acquainted, and the
work Of the Korean league to influence senti-
nent In ofncial circles and among the public
In america against Japan's Korean policy.
Bishop Harris states that the general senti-
ment among the mass of the Korean people is
not hostile TO the japanese. the people gener-
ally faForing the system of government inang-
hnt ts..a rsr q os cOPie,ns were 70 be heard
been deprived OF office and from few others
the people generally welcoming the reduction
Of taxation brought about by the change Of gov
eminent and the doing away with the black
mailing and oppression OF their own officials
The occupation OF the country by The Jap
anese seems to be the hand of providence
working for the good Of Korea - is the sum
marking Of the situation in the bishops words.
who stated further that the friendIness OF
the Korean crown prince with the family OF the
mikado and the general better acquaintance be-
tween the two peoples bringing about q
better understanding and lessening whatever fric-
tlon there might be-
From the standpoint of his own work the
progress being made IN both Japan and Kores
was wonderful. In both countries CHRISTIANITY
was making giant strides. Throughout the coun-
NY districts In Japan Shintoism and Buddhism
were giving away before Christianity not to be
christian in some districts being the excep-
ton while among the conservative upper classes
some converts being made The fllreo
branches Of the Methodist church, the north
erl, southern end Canadian branches have
united In the orient and Japanese Mr.
Honda, has been ordained bishop 10 tine
work the japanese government is iseIping
In Korea the wave Of christianity has syept
over the country in wonderful manner con
verts coming in for baptism faster than Churches
can be built to accommodate them.