The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-06-16
Our Lawyer Governor
Address by E. A MOtt-smith before Bar Association.

remarkable. All kinds of motives an,
influences are at work. To all, good
bad and Indifferent, he listens atten
lively, with patience and with that in
bred courtesy that is impossible to cul
tivate. He is serious man, who ap
preeiates the dignity of his office, bu
never forgets that he is the servant o.
the people.
This, however, is not the only sid,
OF the Governor character. He ha.
quiet and ineisive sense of humor
which comes out at the most unexpect
ed times. As an illustration of thi
side of his character, 1 will cite an in
eident or two.
Just after the Governor return
from his first trip to Washington, the
Chief Justice called upon him. Som,
little while previous the Chief Justic,
was unfortunately bitten on the thumb
while trying to separate two fighting
dogs. The Chief Justice offered hi:
left hand to the Governor, his right
being bandaged. There was slight
pause, when the Governor remarked:
Well, Judge, how is that dog gone
finger of yours''
Having an Acknowledgement and a
lawyer Secretary, our lawyer Governor
once in a while gets his amusement by
little turns on them. This also illus
trates the Governor power of suspen-
sion of Judgment.
Not long after we had all gone into
office, prominent brother lawyer call
ed upon me with a petition for a grant
on a right purchase lease and sub
mitted Herewith fairly lengthy brief.
In going over this brief, 1 thought l
would have a little fun myself, as
knew the matter would be referred to
the Acknowledgement, and having been
associated in, private practice with him
L
therefore suggested to my brother at
torney two lines of argument which
were not included in his brief, and
which he subsequently included, re-
turning several days later and present
ing the whole matter to the Governor
A few days after this, happening to
20 into the Attorney-General's office,
found him surrounded with books, his
hair disheveled, and an anxious look
upon his face. He had before him the
brief l have mentioned. He thus ae-
.osted me: 81 wish you would look
,yer this brief. 1t is mighty clever ar
yument, but 1 know it is wrong some
where, but where l have not been able
% get at yet" and he handed ME the
,rief, indicating the points 1 had in
erted therein. l finally confessed, and
a promise from him not TO
MENTION it to Governor Frear
Shortly thereafter the Governor call
i me into his office and, after talking
ver several matters, method he has
I diverting attention, handed me that |
anne identical brief, asking me to read
over and give my opinion then and
here. Feeling suspicious. / read it as
hough l had never seen it before. Fol-
owing the Attorney-General's opinion
nd not suspeeting collision, thought
nd said it was clever. The Governor
hen looked straight at ME with eur
1us smile and said, with a meaning
hat there was no installing: 'tThat
! about the himsiest argument I ever
cad. Nobody but a mighty poor law
er would do anything like that"
In Hawaii the position of Governor is
4 extremely difficult one. Here we
ave many people of different thoughts,
additions and characteristics. Here,
$50, we have different localities sepa-
ited by seas. Moreover, as a group,
lie Territory occupies a position of i'm
.ense value and Importance to the
alton, not only on account of its
rategie position, but as an outpost
here the first experiments are being
in the eommingling OF the
atoms Of the East and West, and the
ijustment of the resulting conditions.
ere in Hawaii these and other prob
ms are being worked out without
lotion and along lines that make for
lppiness for all within our borders
Id honor for the nation. (;
Our lawyer Governor, with his eI-
utiye ability and his judicial tenn
rament, has these matters in charge,
ID TO quote the words Of his com
issiou from the President, eve may
fely rely upon his intelligence, dill !
nee and discretion -