The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-03-23
HAGENS ELECTED.
NEWPRES|DENTOF
HONOLULU CHAMBER
--A----
Opposition TO Him Because Of
German Birth Killed BY
His Statement
WITHDRAWAL OF SINGLE
FROM RACE MAKES TROUBLE
Proposal To Postpone Election OF
Officers In View Of Crisis
Defeated

Hackfeld 4 Co, was elected president
Of the Honolulu chamber of commerce
Yesterday at the annual meeting OF
members. ~. e<g "a.
Withdrawal of r. w. Single as a
candidate for the presidency leaving
Mr.. Hagens the only nominee resulted
In an unsuccessful move, led by w. ..
Smith, for postponement OF the annual
election so that other nominations could
be made on the plea that the approach
Of war between Germany and the
United States warranted such course
as wise
Mr.. Hagens frankly and clearly de.
fined the issue as one eentering about
his German birth stating that he fully
understood and approved Of the move
for nomination Of other candidates.
He explained that he had been publicly
nominated for the presidency without
his knowledge and consent and thus
placed in a difficult and delicate posi-
ton. He announced that he had been
urged by many friends TO withdraw as
candidate and agreed that the IN.
terests Of harmony would be served by
such a move. s.. H..
81 did not do 80 and cannot do so
now under the circumstances into which
have been unwilhngly placed" said
Mr. Hagens. -.
Defends His Loyalty g."
est would be an impeachment Of my
loyalty as citizen Of the United
states TO withdraw my name as candi'
date for an Office of this chamber In
the nreaent situafion - t
Hearty applause greeted this state
ment, the opposition TO Mr.. Hagens was
dropped and the the following officers
and directors were elected: p.
]. +. c.. Hagens president; Norman
E. Gedge, first viee-president; F. Q.
Atherton, second vice president; A.
Lewis Jr., treasurer, and George H.
Angus, L. A. Berndt. =. +. Bishop, +.
i. Blake, A. W.. 1. Bottomley, A. l..
nastle. r. A. Cooke, =. p. Denison, j.
p. Dole, O. r. Hemenway, F. J. Lowrey,
w. H. McInerny, z. H. Paris, T. ii.
Petrie, @. w. Smith, J, Warehouse and
N. Watkins, directors. T..
The situation raised by Mr.. Hagens
being the single candidate was tangled
by two factors. The nominating com
mittee Of the chamber did not consult
those whom II had selected as candi.
dates before naming and publishing the
list of nominees. The bylaws of the
chamber do not permit the nomination
at the annual meeting of others than
those selected by the nominating com.
mittee, The bylaws specify that nomin:
ations other than those Of the commit.
tee must be made in writing by mem
beers a certain number Of days before
the annual meeting. IL was to make
possible further nominations in writing
for the presidency of the chamber that
w. o. Smith moved that the report
Of the committee be referred back fol
two weeks and that the annual meeting
and election be adjourned for two
weeks when Mr., Shinge withdrew as .
candidate. r,'sf.. ~
Mr.. Single Mighty Busy s
Mr.. Single stated that pressure Of
business prohibited his devoting tn,
time required 10 chamber affairs should
he be elected. He added that A. N
Campbell, his business associate, is u
and viii have TO take six months
rest, leaving the burden Of his offie,
work doubled. Mr.. Single pointed on
that permission had not been asked X
name him for the presidency of thu
chamber and recommended that here
after the nominating cOmnittee consul
those whom IL desires TO make candi
dates. l--,l -,-...... o.. +. -. FL.
Others Withdrawing as candidates
were w, F. Dillingham; for first vice
president, Carl dn Roi for second vice
president, and p. A. Swift, ii, F. WITCH
man and r.. b. Booth for the board o
directors. l''." ...a
w. o. Smith then urged postponemen
Of the election pointing out the i'm
minent danger OF war.
Thinks Election Unwise .En
1.-THE country is on the verge Of
great war;" said Mr.. Smith, "and ]
would be an nnwise move for thi
chamber not 10 postpone the election
and permit Of further nominations. i
IL the part Of wisdom, think, to de
law this election in the face of the crit
cal international situation. We nigh
do something, otherwise, for which W
would be sorry later" I'D. H.. ,a.E
Mr.. Smith and A. J. Campbell, chair
man Of the nominating committee de
bated the legality Of postponing tn
election and other members joined \
the discussion. One member urged tina
M. shingle and Mr.. Dillingham; re
consider their Withdrawals. Mr.. Shin
gle reiterated his refusal to run for tn
presidency. Then Mr.. Hagens, VIII
had been present throughout the dif
unasion, made the following statement
81 am In the same position as Mi
Stingle. was not asked 10 be car
aidate. l was simply notified of m
nomination after the selections OF th
nominating committee were announced
Asked To Withdraw '.' i
ssNow i feel that this discussio
centers somewhat about my birth. An
as / was asked by several members o
the chamber and certain friends /
Withdraw my name as a candidate.
would like to make my stand In thi
matter clear. " 81 ~ "a,a.'