Mr. Willis to Mr. Gresham.
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands , February 2, 1894 .
Sir: In my dispatch No. 10, of December 9, 1893, transmitting an interview with Col. C. B. Wilson, former marshal of the Kingdom, reference is made by him to a list of special and supplementary advisers whom he had selected, and among whom were many of the most prominent and influential citizens. It was not claimed by Mr. Wilson, as far as I am informed, that the selection by him was with the knowledge or consent of these gentlemen, some of whom in the daily press, and others to me in person, have so stated. Among these are Hon. Richard F. Bickerton, first associate justice of the supreme court, Hon. W. Austin Whiting, first judge circuit court, and Hon. F. A. Schaefer, who explicitly disavow any knowledge of the said list, and state that the use of their names was entirely unauthorized and unwarranted. The same disavowal is made by Hon. A. Gr. M. Robertson, Hon. Paul Neumann, Messrs. James H. Boyd, Henry Smith, Thomas R. Lucas, W. M. Cunningham, and others. It is doubtful whether any of those whose names are on these lists were informed of the fact.
Very respectfully,