The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-08-03

JOSEPH b. PONDEXTER
The governor of the Hawaiian is
lands cruised a few days ago to the
Kona coast, the first stopping place of
President Roosevelt on his visit to the
Pacific outpost. Gov. Poindexter,
formerly of Dillon, Mont, headed the
welcoming delegation.
Governor Joseph Boyd PoindeXter
is the son of a. California pioneer
who became a rancher in Montana
during the SOS. Son Joseph grew up,
took to the law, went into politics,
became a State judge, according to
a recent article in Time magazine.
He was MOntana's attorney general
in 1917 when Woodrow Wilson made
him a federal Judge in Hawaii. He
was a quiet man, some said stubborn,
firm and courteous on the bench, not
given to expansive talk or large social
entertainments. Hunting, fishing and
contract bridge we're his only sports
and his only boast concerning fish
ing: "The big ones never get away
from me-"
Time magazine continues: 1.-THE job
of Governor of Hawaii was n of
the big ones that did not get away
from him. Yet he made no elaborate
expedition for it. After he retired
from the bench in 1924, he practiced
law in Honolulu, became president of
the Hawaii Bar association; some
thing of an island civitarian. Neither
the powerful Hawaiian Sugar Plant
ers' association nor the local Demo-
cratic machine sponsored him for
governor. Coolidge-like in DISPOSE
ton, and having little in common
with Franklin Roosevelt save religion
(Episcopalian) and one personal
habit (incessant cigaret smoking),
Judge" Poindexter won the Presi-
dents approval because all groups
admitted he was a good man, al
though not their man.
"Years ago John Dominis, a ship
master who made a fortune in the
Pacific trade, built himself a fine
white colonial mansion in what Is
now the centre of Honolulu. His half
white son married Liliuokalani, last
Hawaiian monarch, John D0miniS
house became Iolani Palace and his
daughter-in-law lived in it long at
ter she was deposed. When she died,
q great fat wahine, in 1917, the ter
ritorial government bought Iolani
Palace as a governors mansion. It
still stands, enlarged but little chang
ed. There on March I, Judge"
Poindexter was sworn in a governor
by his friend Justice Banks Of the
Hawaiian Supreme Court. There,
with his daughter Helen, Governor
P0indexter stood in Queen LIS
throne-room giving formal reception
to all and sundry who tramped past
the statute of King Kamehameha l,
across the HANDICAPPED grounds, and
through the governors door.
"Those who looked for a New Deal
Governor to begin with q flourish
were disappointed. He did not even
deliver an inaugural address. During
his first nine days in office, he al
lowed many people to come and
whisper in his ear, including Demo-
cratic National Committeeman John
II. Wilson rs Scotch Irish, u Tahi-
tian, " Hawaiian), but no political
appointment was made, not one single
official statement issued"
The Poindexter family Is a strong
one. They located in the Beaverhead
country in the very early days, COM
ing from the west coast. Poindexter
& Orr became one Of the great stock
growing concerns of southern Mon
tana, and at one time had 100000
acres under fence. Thomas Poindex-
ter, Jr., q cousin of Governor Poin-
dexter was secretary of state. Mrs.
Cooney, wife of Gov. Frank Cooney'
Is also q cousin, and Uncle John
Poindexter served in the territorial
council. Former Senator Mark Poin-
dexter Of Washington, is related to
the Montana Poindexters.
And now Joe Poindexter, who grew
to manhood in Dillon, as the first
man In Honolulu, is serving as host
to the president of the United States.