The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-08-23
.SOMOANS PROTEST
AGAINST GOVERNOR
ADMINISTRATION OF COMMAN-
DER w. J. TERHUNE, OF
NAVY UNSATISFACTORY

| TUTUILA, American Samoa-Dis-
content Of Samoans over the Ameri-
can administration under Commander
w. J. Terhune, naval governor, will
be laid before President Wilson i'll
a plea by 200 kings and chiefs for
governmental investigation dispatch
ed today to Washington. The petit
tion followed clashes between, natives
and sailors, which eliminated in tie
recent stoning of the naval govern
or's residence.
The petition to the president in full
follows:
"We, the undersigned are your
friends, Kings, High Chiefs and
Talking Chiefs of American Samoa,
all united together as one body and
mind. With great reverence and
respect, most humbly ask your FIX
cellency to graciously take into con-
sideration our petition as written be-
low:
l. 1t is respectfully requested by
all the Kings, High Chiefs and Talk
ing Chiefs of American Samoa that
your Excellency appoint Board of
Investigators to come down here at
an early date to investigate our Gov
ernmental affairs, financially, polite
ally and legally, as the present con-
ditions are very unsatisfactory to US
and the present Island Administra-
tion fails to satisfy US in our de- I
mands.
"2. It is our most sincere desire
that Lieutenant Commander G. H. I
Boucher, U. S. N, who has been or
1ered away from here by the Navy
be sent back with the
board of inquiry to give his assist
We, upon our words of honor, do
hereby certify with our signature
las been real gentleman that was
zig enough to side with US when he
arrived here. He offered his assist ]
lnce to investigate our affairs but
he present Island Administrator is
lgainst him and that is why he has
,een ordered home. We firmly be-
ieve in this man, as to his integrity,
fidelity, partiality to none and his
tanding for the right.
"3. Undoubtedly the Navy De- {
artment has already been informed :
f Lieutenant Commander c. H. ,
'oucher's actions. :
"a. We, the representatives of the t
amoan people, feel there are many +
hanges needed here. We are in the
concerning many things we !
aink we have the right to know and
re believe the only way for us to get
ur rights is to have a hearing be-
ore an impartial commission from
Washington, D. C. We ask this hear
lg to increase the friendly feeling
the Samoan people toward the
nited States. We are loyal in our II
carts to the United States and have
zen since 1900 when the American
ag came here. We are a peaceful
Id quiet people and want to be a
edit to the United States. There is v
, bitterness in our hearts toward tt
merica but we humbly ask for this el
,mmlssion to improve our cOndi- Of
ms and make US better people. in
e have much confidence in your ke
xcellency as the Father of the Sa- at
oan people that you will approve tn
r humble petition. "r
Lieutenant Commander Boucher was VI
tached from the post of captain of ol
e yard and second in seniority here u
d ordered back to the states, fol- ST.
wing charges he made against az
ucher came here in May and soon IN
ter asked Governor Terhune for a IN
ange of conditions here, urging re- up
wal from office of Judge A. M. bu
'ble, secretary of native affairs and op
ef justice Of the island, Lieuten- so
w. A. Macdonald, customs Off mi
; and engineer officer and L. w. ye
rtwright clerk to the governor. o.
Boucher returns to the United ~, ~,
ties on q steamer leaving today. ~ ~
Navy department orders recently W.
icated Captain Waldo B. Evans of ~;
dreadnaught Wyoming had been ~ ~
ached and instructed to proceed ~
American Samoa to relieve Com al Nc
nder Terhune as governor. 80.
oago Pago dispatches say Cover 81
Terhune's supporters, denying e
lcher's charges, declared the COM Aul
nder was instrumental in en- ~.
voring to shake the faith Of Sa- WI
ans in integrity Of American Of I'm
a1s nor