The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-05-28
2407 Bowditch Street,
Berkeley, California,
May 14th, 1920.

May 14th, 1920.
Mr.. Will. j. Cooper,
Waikiki, Maui, T. H.
My dear Mr.. Cooper:
Literally scores of people, both here
and in Hawaii, thoroughly ~conversant
with all the inside facts in the history
of the Island Electric Company, know
from their own experience n inves-
legations hat editorials and other arti-
cles appearing recently in your news
paper have gone far astray from the
paths of justice, equity and truth.
1t is generally known in financial
circles here, as well as in Hawaii, that
the Island Electric Company has for
years endeavored to interest addition
al capital, in order to meet the needs
of the people of Maui for electricity;
that it has repeatedly been on the
point Of success, almost to the very
hour OF signing the necessary papers,
only to have the capital frightened, or
intimidated, by seemingly hidden
forces; that other financial men and
attorneys have volunteered to discover
and have through their Danking and
other channels secured written evil
dence to prove, just who was so as
sidously ~endeavoring to prevent the
company from raising the capital; and
that, in spite of such mistaken steps
of opposition, it has recently obtained
strong financial backing, at last.
There is also much written and other
evidence to prove that / have repeat
eddy in the past six years earnestly
endeavored to place the ~trusteeship
and control Of the company in the
hands of such men as Frank Baldwin,
or trust company or banking officials,
under whose guardianship and guild
ance the company could easily have
been financed and brought to its ut
most usefulness and to a prosperity
satisfactory to all. Your own March
advertising columns contain addition
al evidence of this desire that the
shares and preponderance of profits OF
the company be owned by the con
sumers and other residents Of Maui;
but you editorially brush aside this
effort at cooperation, rs also in fact
do those who proclaim themselves
ready with capital for this business.
1t has been pointed out to me thai
in addition to all this accumulated
evidence of right motives misunder
stood, the press and certain Of the
people of Maui have now become sc
bold as to declare themselves openly
to be conspiring with intent to de
stroy, and to incite others to destroy
% property Of peor'e who include
many Maui reside by methods
amounting Writ III actor
and lynch law IL 'siness
1t is not my de r, to take
any advantage OF a misstep
other than to col the false con
cepts uncovered in your columns, ant
to ~disprove them to your W satisfac
ton by works, rather than by words
The files Of Maui men contain much
evidence that my keenest desire IL
that the electric public service OF
Maui be perfected. am equally de
sirous that nothing shall occur nov
on the part Of anyone there or here
which must later be regretted by b.
the perpetrators, or their children o.
grandchildren. There must be peace
Of conscience for everyone, when thii
problem is presently solved.
We here, are all fully aware anC
deeply regret that the sufferings. b.
whomsoever imposed, OF self-imposed
among the people OF Maui, have beer
grievous through the delay In the ar
rival Of adequate additions to thu
plant. How could anyone, whethe,
shareholder or consumer, feel other
wiser But there are those who I'm
derstand what obstacles have had t.
be overcome.
To make the long experiment. an'
TO demonstrate, against undeniabl,
skepticism, heavy odds and increasing
ly aggressive activities from the start
that central Maui has great possibili
ties for an electric light and powe
company,-has cost the electric com
pany's originators the sacrifice o
shares Of Hawaiian Commercial 4
Sugar Company, Pioneer Mill Com
pany, Onomea Sugar Company, ant
other companies. which, il retaine'
and never converted to risk in tn,