The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-01-24
LANG LEAN FANG
HEARS OF PIuEIA
Special Chinese Commissioner
Meets Merchants, Who Hope
All Is Pau.

D
there is general air as IL something
out Of the usualsis happening Mem
bers Of the United Chinese Society arc
busy preparing evidence to place be-
fore the Chinese commissioner from
Washington, Liang Lean Fang, and it
is only up at the consulate that the |,
usual oriental silence still prevails.
Ever since the Hrst start Of the
trouble between the Chinese and the
consul this unwillingness to give any
official news of the trouble has been
noticeable feature, and consequently
the facts of the matter have been all
one.sided. Even at this time when a
special commissioner has been sent
down to inv estigate the trouble no Off
cial news is available and the news
paper man is an unwelcome visitor.
Every time he goes out to the consul
ate there is nothing doing and all the
officials are out.
The Special Commissioner.
LANG Lean Fang, special commits.
sioner from the Chinese consulate at
Washington, is an astute and keen OBJ
server He knows his Honolulu, having
been here before, and is surprised at
the wonderful development which has
taken place in the city since his last
visit. He is also surprised at the charge
laid at the door of our Chinese mer-
| chants. that they and their families are
revolutionists, for during his peregrina-
tions around the city since his arrival
he has failed to notice any of the signs
! which usually accompany a movement
such as has been started here, according
to the consul
His first visit, naturally, was to the
consulate, where he was greeted with
the usual ceremonial obsequies which
are the custom among the Chinese on
the occasion of such a visit as this.
What his impressions of things consul
ate were is, of course, impossible to
say, but when he received more cere.
monial visits yesterday from the mer-
chants his manner did not show that
GOODNESS which it might have been
thought would be the outcome of his
first visit. In fact. he seemed rather
partial to his visitors. and was very
anxious to hear their side of the story.
The merchants are delighted with this
and take it as an omen that they are
to receive every consideration at the
commissioner hands.
Meeting at the Young Hotel.
Yesterday the Chinese merchants and
the leading members of the United Chi
nese Society paid their first ceremonial
visit to Commissioner LANG Lean Fang
j at the Young Hotel, where he is guest
j One of the smoking-rooms was given
over to their use, and the commissioner
/, received them with all the usual orr
entail .politeness. They had cast off theil
: everyday garb and were arrayed in theil
i full costumes of flowing silk. The visit
q lasted an hour altogether, and during
> that time the whole facts of the case
, from the Chinese community's point OF
: view were placed before him.
! They told him how, in the first place
: the consul had tried to take a census
here, and had wanted to charge them
: $1.25 a head for the expenses. This
I fact the commissioner was already
!, aware of, but at the same time he gave
r. them to understand that until the re
: ports had reached the consulate al
+ Washington that trouble was brewing
the officials there did not know that
/ census was to be taken here on tn,
!; lines mentioned.
: The troubles which arose and the re
suits of the populations to the consu
from the United society and the mer
chants here were all spoken of and tht
l results noted. Then came the story o.
the Hee Fat trial. This trial has don,
more to turn the Chinese against thu
: consul than anything else since tn,
n trouble began, as they say they ar,
/ ashamed of a man who represented
q their country, placing himself in tn,
position the consul did
!. Such "sad Pity"
n "Oh dear, dear, this is bad, yer,
bad, exclaimed the commissioner whel
9 he heard of the facts. at is a grea
= pity, great pity"
: Then they went ON to explain to hin
!, the question which arose at the time a
u to whether the consul came under tn
= jurisdiction of the courts here.
''Of course he does, came the an
70 swer. eff he goes into such matte
- then he must put up with the consC
>. quences and comes under the ordinar
law"
. They told him also of the mass meet
Il ing and their intention, that if nothin
was heard from their government, tina
they were going to approach Governo
F'rfar.
Inc AuNh tAoauith Nhti
6 that he would go very fully into TIL
matter and asked that the Chinese Sc
ciety hold meeting last night at whic
. he wonld be present and would hea
a. officially what they had TO say abOu
n the matter. 1t was pointed out to hin
"a however, that Saturday night would b
bad night to have it, as the shops di
? not close until late and that there Nigh
y be some trouble.
y Meeting Tomorrow.
= Finally II was decided that the 81
n ciety should meet ON Monday ,eyenin
n at seven O'Clock, when the whole Z
4 the case would be more thoroughly goI
n into. At the same time they asko
M him TO put In tho time between by nal
ing some inquiries round about anon
m the other merchants and not to tax
er all they had told him as the trui
v. without other proof.
"a The commissioner spent last nigl
4. quietly going about among the Chine
10 the city and will, no doubt, gain u
Iis sight into the truth, or otherwise, {
rt tho rum0rs as to iheir being revolution
H.. d