Honolulu star-bulletin., 1917-12-27

Every Honolulu stockholder OF
Hackfeld's indorses the decision to
seek Rodiek's resignation, according
to Mr.. Isenberg.
"As genuine Americans we cannot
stand for that sort of thing" re-
marked Mr.. lsenberg when questioned
regarding the step.
The message informed Rodiek that
his connection with Hackfeld's was no
longer desired in view of his own ad.
mission of guilt in the violation Of
American neutrality, and that from q
business standpoint his association
with the firm would be inimical to its
best interests because Of the bitter
feeling in the community against him
due to the revelations both in tho
Hindu case and presumably because Of
the Grasshof diary implications.
The arrival of Mr.. Hamburg is. ex-
pected to clear the atmosphere Of
doubt at Hackfeld's.
Before the imposition Of the fine it
was MT. Rodiek's intention to return
to Honolulu and resume the manage.
ment Of Hackfeld's At that time he
Is reported to have told certain San
Francisco acauaintances that one OF
two courses was open to him; either
to reorganize Hackfeld's as a purely
American institution, with j. F.. and
August Humburg. J. F. C. Hagens and
himself at the helm and get rid of all
the Germans in the institution, or to
sell out Hackfeld's to American CAPT
tai. .s.-..
Whether this last could be done un.
der the trading g-with-the-enemy law In
view of the fact that the government
is responsible for the stock of alien
enemies Is matter of speculation. Mr..
Rodiek may have had In mind the
stock held in Honolulu. .~ -s.....
This morning 81. F. c. Hagens, second
vice president Of Hackfeld's, who has
already rendered his resignation, was
engaged In filling out the blanks sent
here this week by the custodian CT
alien property, giving all information
regarding the stock, mortgages, ETC.,
of Hackfeld's, particularly the hold.
ings in the hands of residents in Ger.
many.
Three Know Nothing
From three different citizens close
ly associated with Hackfeld e. Go.
comes the assertion that they have no
knowledge of Mr.. Rodiek being asked
to resign as ore of the vice-pEes Lcnts
of the company. One of these adds
the information he believes no action
will be taken until the arrival here of
J. F. Humburg.
All three of these citizen stoekhold-
ers, representatives of stockholders or
attorneys of the company were asked:
viii you affirm or deny that Mr..
Rodiek has been asked to resign from
Hackfeld & Co. by the Hawaii stock
holders of the company" ,
Albert S. Wilcox OF Lihue, Kauai,
replied shortly: 81 do not know any
thing about It,"
Frank Thompson, one of the mem
bers of the legal firm which repre-
sents the company in Honolulu, said:
Il do not know anything about 1t.
Ed Duisenberg, who represents two
citizen stockholders, one of whom IS
his sister, Mrs. Isenberg, said: z
Il do not know of any such action
being taken, and so far as | know no
such action is contemplated. NothiHs
will be done until the arrival here OF
Mr.. HHmburg."
The status of the Hackfeld stock
ownership is not definitely known,
but it is understood that John f.
Hackfeld of Bremen, Germany, who is
head of the house. is the principal II
not the majority stockholder. The VII.
coxes of Kauai are said to be consid-
erable shareholders. Mr.. Isenberg is
probably the largest stockholder resi-
dent in Honolulu. z -
4