The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-12-10
Portland Papers Roast.

Faced with the Juror that it had
raised in Hawaii by printing an al
legged interview with DIR. j. Chris
O'Day of Honolulu, the Portland Tele
gram has printed an explanation of
the details of the interview that was
held in the Office of that paper and
which led to the printing of the gross
misstatements concerning leprosy in
the Territory. The explanation is as
follows:
ga well-dressed man representing
himself to be DR.. John C, O'Day, tax
ing postgraduate course in the Office
of a leading local physician of Port
land, appeared some time ago in The
Telegram office and desired to be in
terviewed on the subject of Hawaiian
lepers. His local connections were
given, and owing to his eagerness to
appear in print on the subject, it was
deemed necessary to determine if he
came well recommended. These facts
being learned to the eager Doctors adj
vantage, he was given the benefit of
doubts caused by his eagerness in
wanting such an article printed.
''In the interview, all of which was
taken down carefully in shorthand
notes, the sharp tongued doctor un-
folded a startling state of alleged
facts. His statements were not borne
out by the general impression of the
world as to conditions in Hawaii,
which, of course, suggested that he
was in error. But he was so eager,
came so well recommended and placed
himself so emphatically in the role of
a knight Grant championing the cause
of the deposed and accusing Queen of
the former Hawaiian government, that
Doctor 0'Day was deemed worthy of a
public hearing. This The Telegram
gave him, as it is in duty bound to 10
for any complainant who makes out an
intelligent case and gives reasonable
evidence of honest relationships.
'.Doctor O'Day's statement were not
put in the paper in every instance as
strong and radical as he made them.
However, the burden of the charges he
made. and the full measure of credit
he took unto himself for relieving
Molokai prisoners who might not be
lepers, were set forth accurately and
carefully, and with the most faithful
regard for the thought expressed.
''Later Doctor O'Day secured copies
of the issue in which the interview ap-
peared, and seemed well-pleased with
the report. He had stated that he in
tended to become a resident of Port
land, had lectured on leprosy in Ha-
wall before students, and in other ways
gave the impression that his life and
work were much devoted to scientific
aspects of leprosy and that his efforts
in behalf of the Hawaiian afflicted and
unjustly imprisoned, if more remained
of such, would be unremitting.
CATER accommodating the young
doctor of such good repute, as The
Telegram did, and launching one bolt
IN behalf of the helpless, rather against
the best judgment of the stan, the sur
prise of learning that Doctor O'Day
went TO Hawaii and repudiated every
word he had said, may be imagined.
When he reached the Islands, where his
words had created tremendous Juror,
his iirst statements before leaving the
steamship werei
you can state positively for me that
the story as II appears Is tissue of
false statements as far as ] am con,
eerned, made out of whole cloth.
don't care how strong you make the
~ ny 'HFhh'NA"H WIN AHt
teTyiew,
"lt would be interesting from the
press viewpoint 10 learn il this Is Doe
i1F 0'Day'H practice. II not regular
habit OF hin w. Nauld YET be Of inter
Get 20 'rarn What moved him 10 make
fuoh q Circus spmersault after being s0
intensely eager few WeeLs ago "a
have his views published"
Another DENIAL
when told VI the substance VI this
fAplanafi0n yesterday ~ an AdysT
iiSeT reporter, Duei0r O'nAy agalp de
nlod ihe statements NJ Tho TelegIam
and volunteered ihe following further
aefpppi W ihe ipipfYlfB liteli
iiin TgplY AZ ihe fiRifmfni ihhi
srhi iuia ~ unlrr, ~ M tali, ~ did
sH1 ! ialh 80 lsrprifi fhai ihpfe Nal
eeag ISIS ihai J ehpiea ~ thaH upl
VA ihli geef hai kspl ~ eNi " ~
hp'piisls VI hopglvls A. ~ mallfsl