Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-11-28

with but one or two dissenting
voices, the Merchants Association at
its crowded meeting yesterday after.
noon, orally put itself on record AS be.
ing heartily opposed to the exchange
of the Mahuka for the Palace. Square
site for the Federal building. Many
of those present at the meeting stated
that their personal gain would without
n doubt be augmented II the Federal
building were constructed on the Pal.
ace Square site, and number stated
that they had always been IN favor
of the Palace Square site as The ideal
Mace for the Federal building. but all
were united In denOuucing the alleged
high.handed. secret manner in which
the transactions of the exchange
were carried on. Every member of the
Merchants Association present was
called upon for an expression of Opin-
ion, and In some instances the discus.
sion of the manner in which the ex.
change was effected became heated,
and Il was suggested By some that y
strenuous denunciatiOn be included in
the proposed resolution.
Then Il was that +. w. Dohrmann,
| President of the Merchants AssOCia.
| ton of San Francisco. and Father of
the Merchants Association of Homo.
lulu" rose and asked permission of
the chairman to say n few words. In
n quiet. sensible talk. Mr.. DOhrmann
soon showed those present how much
better il would be To assume that the
parties taking the opposite stand were
doing II In good faith.
"If YOU assume that they believe
they are In the right" he said, "arIi
instead of becoming angry, ask them
for delay and reconsideration, hO
not for one minute believe that they
will fail you. We must assume that
the authorities at Washington believe
themselves to be In the right. ASK
for more time, send them resolutions
showing the deep feeling Of your rep
resentativc bodies here. but. If you
wish to be heard and wish to control
the situation. do not condemn them
harshly. | have always found out that
II assume that my opponent Is act
ing in good faith, | can get more thar
II I assumed that he was crooked,
offer this merely as a uggestiOn-tako
a little time. study out the PROPOSE
ton. and then ask the Department foI
delay and reconsideration"
Mr.. Dohrmann wps heartily applaud
ed, and several members leaped Il
their feet to thank him for his word
OF, advice. Geo. w. Smith had the let
ter Of George b. Mcclellan real, q
follows:
"The Treasury Department says tia
It has been represented to them TIA,
there Is a considerable sentiment !:
Honolulu favoring such n change. am
| may add that one Of the Treasur.
officials inclines to the same opinion
in view of this immediate possibi
ity of having the site question reoper
ed, would he glad to be advised q
the present attitude Of your organize
ton on the question: In view of tn
claim made here that considerable pul
lie sentiment favOIs change of lOcj
ton. | would suggest that " your bod
desires to stand by its previous actor
II woiNd be advisable tn circulate
new petition asking that the appropr
alton already made be promptly e.
pended on the site already acquired b
the government and have this petitio
generally signed by business house
and prominent citizens.
1T seems certain that unless
prompt show of sentiment Is mad
against reopCnng the site question
the agitation will at least tend to d
lay work on any building whatever;
has no doubt been factor already
delaying the actual preparation
plans for the Honolulu Federal bull
Ing"
The detailed story Of the meetir
follows.
The minutes Of the previous NEE
ing were read by Secretary +.
Paris
Mr.. Paris was first called upon
President Smith to read the lett
from Geo. b. Mcclellan In the matt
of the exchange of the Mahuka sill
President Smith then referred TO
press clipping in which the FEEDER
architect called a meeting of busine
men at which the selection of the NJ
huka site was unanimously approve
Mr.. Cation was called upon to {
press an opinion.
II have always been In favor of d
Palace Square site" he said "thou
| fear am In the minority"
| Mr.. Hertsche, Mr.. Warren and OF
| ers. however, were decidedly In fay
of the Mahuka site. wa
| 81, like Mr.. Cation. have alwa
| been In favor Of the Palace site" 80
| Mr.. Wichman, but don't believe Il
| Is a time for personal feelings. 1t
| a matter as to whether the Merchan
! Association will stand for the Fede,
officials to overrun public opinion he
n withdraw all my objections, and j.
| with all In favor Of the Mahuka sit
! ut is very unfair" said Mr.. Stein
| III three or four or Ave men C
| control and stultify the U. S. Cove
ment, believe It Is time for us to
something II is an outrage.
| ut Is a breach of faith" said
Du Roi. 1T is wrong for the COVE
ment to throw down the merchal
who have put up $4,000. We sho
take some emphatic action"
| Mr.. Eakin and Mr. Bellina favor
| the Mahuka site. Mr.. Waterho,
protested against the secrecy of
| transaction, and also though some
| tiOn shOull he taken