The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-01-25

der to avoid the carrying into effect
OF General Wisser's threat to keep
soldiers out Of the city unless Haunting
vice were eliminated. = I
The municipal affairs committee of
the chamber Of commerce virtually
issued an nItimatum itself that the
city must be cleaned up, and the pc.
lice department, by Sheriff Rose and
Chief of Detectives McDufie, promised
that they would do the job and do
II satisfactorily within thirty days.
They asked that they be given that
much time In which to accomplish the
object, and the chamber committee
Rgreed to their request. 'tE
The day was marked by an ex-
change Of letters between General Wis
ser and Mayor Form, as a result of
which "a conference will be held this
afternoon by army, municipal and fed
eral officials to work out plans for
driving pimps, prostitutes and boot
leggers from the city and making il
safe for the soldiers.
After slumbering for years, the civic
conscience appears to be finally wide
awake. 1t has been shocked out of
its slumbers by the danger that threat.
ened business, and the result is expect.
ed to be that Honolulu will make an
honest and vigorous attempt to get rid
of the evils that have caused the city
TO be advertised all over the United
States as a place that is not safe for
Uncle Sam 3 soldiers. ..
Events crowded closely yesterday
upon the issuance Tuesday Of the Ill
tfmatum Of Brigadier. General John
p. Wiser, commanding the army forces
in Honolulu, that the city oficinls clean
up the city of vice traffic or he would
forbid the soldiers. from visiting the
city until this was done. ~
Following a conference yesterday
morning Of the municipal affairs com
nlittee of the chamber of commerce
with Mayor Fern, Sheriff Charles II.
Rose and Chief of Detectives A. Nc
Duffie, when the police department
pledged itself to effect the clean up in
thirty days time, Mayor Fern re-
quested General Wiser to agree to a
conference to be held ut five O'Clock
this afternoon. This conference is to
include the general, the army officer
especially detailed TO aid in the York,
the department judge advocate; The
United States attorney, United States
marshal, city attorney and his depu-
ties, the sheriff and chief Of detectives
Ct Honolulu.
The above, in substance, were the
results of yesterdays conferences and
correspondence passing between the
commanding officer, the mayor and the
sheriff. while at the same time the
sheriff initiated the battle to be waged
against immortality wherever or how
ever II may exist within the city, in
which he has the cooperation Of the
chamber of commerce and the daily
press. -
Wiser Answers Fern
General Wiser replied yesterday to
Mayor Fern g letter of January 90, in
which he acknowledged the difficulties
confronting the mayor in carrying out
the wishes of the department COM
mander and adding that he as depart
ment commander has always been ready
tn cooperate properly and legally"
with the civil authorities, but reiter-
ated his unwillingness to use enlisted
men as "stool pigeons"
Mayor Fern replied to this letter
from the general. saying he was pleas.
cd to know the commanding officer
realized that neither the community
NOR the officials of the city have the
duty or power to enforce United States
laws and regulations and that he, the
general, appreciated the difficulties Of
the city under the circumstances.
Wisser's Letter
General Wiser 3 letter dated yester-
day addressed to Mayor Fern and sign
ed on the generals behalf by Captain
John Smith, Jr., acting department ad-
jutant, was as follows:
"The, department commander begs
to acknowledge the receipt of your
Communication of January 23, 1918,
"He understands fully, from the Of.
fetal reports Of his officers, your diff
1eulties in the matter.
"He' has been ready at all times to
cooperate properly with the civil au-
th0rities, and, by circular issued by
order Of the secretary Of war, Novem!
Der 2, l9l7,, every commanding officer
of this department is requested to re-
port, through the department judge ad.
vOcate. to the Y. s. district attorney
all violations of Section l2 (relating
to alcoholic liquor) of the act of con.
greHs Of May Is, 1917. -
"As above stated, the department
commander has always been ready to
cooperate properly and legally with, the
civil authorities, but is not willing to
use enlisted men as stool pigeons Chat
is, the use of our most respectable and
reliable enlisted men as decoys or in
formers), because that takes awny the
selfrespect of good soldier, and in
the opinion of the department. com,
mander, IL not warranted.
''''The department commander has
simply stated what is, in his opinion,
the only proper and legal course for
him to take in the event of failure on
the part of the community to carry out
the President s proclamation.
Gan officer Of the Army has been de-
tailed to assist the civil authorities to
obtain evidence, and he is available
for consultation with you at any time.
Moreover, the department commander
is ready at any time to discuss with you
the entire matter"
Mayor Ferns Reply
MAVOF Fern rpnlVi nv I'm this cnm