The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-31
LIFE IN MOLOKAI
NOW FACES EARLY
Bonaparte'S Decision Gives
Secretary Power TO Send
Him TO Leper Colony.
STATES MIGHT
SET UP PROTEST
Refusal to Permit Passage of Man
Across Borders Would
Add to Tangle.

John Early. the Ieper who came 70
Washington last July, and whose case
has attracted widespread attention, may
/ be deported TO t..e leper cciony at Mata-
key in the Hawaiian Islands.
This Is the probability that turks be-
tween the lines Of a decision of the At
tOrney General and forwarded 10 Sec
Tetary CortelyOu, OF the Treasury De-
partment. That the fate OF John Early
rests upon this decision and the action
OF Secretary cortelyou. but until the
return to Washington Of he Secretary
Of the Treasury, nothing further can
be learned as 10 the hnal disposition OF
the case.
A fine line has been drawn in the case
by the Attorney General. The District
Commissioners would not order Eariy's
deportation because there is no pro-
vision made for the use OF any part Of
the District appropriation 10 cover such
a case The Disrrict OF Columbia, how
ever. is Federal territory, and the Sec
retary of the Treasury will have the
right 10 consider it as such in the dis
position OF the Early case. In this way
his deportation may be accomplished
The leper colony in Hawaii is United
States territory. and is maintained by
an appropriation from Congress.
The probability Of EaHy's removed Of
fers an outlook almost as interesting
and equally unfortunate as that of the
west Virginia lepeF who was dspOrted
10 the place from which he had come.
West Virginia authorities refused TO
permit the train bearing the leper %
stop within the state lines. and the man
was showed about from pillar TO post
ia box car until he died.
such a clash between the Federal and
State authorities would probably ensue
should an attemp. be made 10 return
Early u mis- North Carolina home. from
which ne came 10 Washington last sum
meT. not only would there probably bee
trouble pa NoTth Carolina, but from
JtheF afFliiary JlrOL IN which Early
would Le Obliged C pass.
The question mas been raised as TO
whether this same friction might not be-
encountered in taking Early through
The various states In getting him 10 JHe
Pacific coast bat IL has been made
known thai the Interstate Commerce
-OnlmissISn could effect this without
uifHCulty.
should Early be sent to the Govern
ment lepeT colony IN Hawaii. IL is prob
able his wife would accompany him.
80 ~ &c - a = .AA ti441
case IS not KNOWN but Secretary Cor
tGIyCu viii evidently throw some uEnt
on the subject when he returns.
should she make application To go
with her usband. however, IL Is be-
lieved permission would be given her,
but IL would probably mean that she
could never leave the leper colony
again.
The attitude OF the local public Ia
the cGse OF Early has been one of un-
concern generally, so far as fear OF
ontagion may be considered. He is
isolated in his camp, and the public
las become accustomed 10 the know
edge THAI a leper Is living in the
District However. il is not improb-
q bic that II Secretary Cortelyou is
sues a regulation that the presence
OF leprOsy in the District Of COlumb bia
IS a serious menace and danger to the
public health, Early may be depOrted
within a short time to the colony in
HaWali.