Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-07
STORY OF FIRST DAYS
HEARING TOLD IN DETAIL

tiL1iitltO IOID4tlV QE HI
Mr.. Fisher in opening the hearing
dwelt briefly on the purpose OF his
II have come here at the request
OF the governor and the delegate to
congress and the president OF the
United States TO learn at first hand
what can of the conditions of the isl.
ands and the appointment of the gov
ernor."
He said that part Of the delay in
reappointing the governor has been
due TO the protest of the delegate. No
charges of improper conduct are al.
legged. Mr.. Fisher explained, express
Ing his qualification at this.
have requested the delegate to
put in specific form the definite In
stances on which his protest is bas-
ed. said Mr.. Fisher, and referred also
TO the governors formal reply and
supplementary documents also filed
with Elm. He instanced Mr. kidneys
sliief filed for the delegate last Feb
Ifuary g. He quoted most of the fol-
lowing from the delegates charges as
the basis for discussion and referred
during the morning:
Four years more Of Governor
Frears administration produce no
better results than the last four years:
Hawaii is likely 20 drift into condi-
tons where public degradation, from
the status OF a TERRITORY TO one where
selfrule. even In purely local matters,
Is denied her people, may become d
live national issue
II charge that the domination tof
Hawaii by the sugar plantations,
( which are In turn directly controlled
BY the sugar agencies in Honolulu,
has been progressing and extending
throughout the Governors administra-
ton, and this fact has been winked
At certainly not challenged. by Gov.
ernor Frear: and In this respect, his
public utterances and written reports
IN reference to Industrial conditions
IN Hawaii, claiming satisfactory pro-
I gross Ia the development of this Ter
/ ritory are misleading and offer cogent
proof In this, that the Governor eth
. er cannot see or refuses TO see that
while there Is great, in fact. too much
1 wealth concentrated and concentrat-
! ing in the Industrial corporations of
/ Hawaii. and in the hands of few
I, men that control them, the population
+ az large was never relatively shorter
! III its supply Of independent land and
homecoming citizens.
TheFyital trouble Is that the people
( who control the Industrial life of Ha-
+, wall have become so blinded by long
continued prosperity and the habit OF
! controlling everything from their own
standpoint that they, themselves, do
4 not realize how deadly that policy is
/ TO the ultimate welfare OF the Terri
tory, determined as 1t finally will he
by the character and standing of its
I peopleaassa whole.
Governor Frear is q party (con-
ceded very respectable parity TO
I this syEtem, and in the final analysis
and at hears Is in sympathy with its
perpetuation. He would like to have
lioinesteRds. he would like to have
I many small independent homes. but is
! not sufficiently In earnest about 1t to
+ cut loose from the old policies and
! perquisites and to leave the industrial
i system Of Hawaii to reform itself so
that small homes and holdings may
( become a beneficiary and necessary
part of that system, as 1t does in the
Industrial life OF every wellordered
Estate This task is conceded by me
/ 10 be very delicate and difficult one
I ct best, but that every fact makes it
all the more important that no half
!. hearted pilot should be at the helm.
a do not intend to attack the sugar
Industry: 1t keeps the Territory np in
every direction and decisive blow
/ to the sugar plantations wonld bring
/ dire confusion in all directions and to
! all classes rather would see a large
part OF the revenues from sugar util-
lied in a sincere, weIl-sustained and
! intelligent effort to develop small hold
! ings throughout the country"
! He referred to the rejoinder filed
on March ~. 1912, by the delegate in
reply 20 the Governors reply.
II am not certain whether or not
the Governor has been supplied with
this reply, said Mr. Fisher
II have not, said Governor Frear.
Mr.. Fisher asked the delegate il he
!, had a copy and ISuhio said he had not.
81 think the Governor should have
a copy" said Mr.. Fisher and thereup-
on passed his own copy over to Gov.
ernor Ffear
Secretary Fisher then took up the
delegates charges more in detail,
reading aloud the delegates charge
that Governor Frear is party 10 do
mination Of the sugar interests" even
II an unwilling party.
Commenting on this. Mr.. Fisher
said the statements raise the funda-
mental questions as to what can be
done by the executive and what has
been done by him. entirely irrespec-
tive of the personality Of that execu-
tive.
Mr.. Fisher said his desire now is
to get light on these points. so as to
: be guided in recommendation as to
future action on the goyernorship.
Mr.. Fisher said he had been told
that the dominance OF the sugar inter
gsts here might prevent persons from
making statements at public hear.
ing.