The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-12-05
HOW TROUBLE IS PREVENTED.

4 morning contemporary which
never expresses itself upca political
questions without exposing its ignor-
auce says: 1T Is unprecedented that
an executive committee should have
20 be composed 20 as 10 maintain
balance between two districts" If
the paper referred TO were only post
I'd on American politics it would
know that II is unpreccd ented for two
districts Ike the Fourth and Fifth
Districts OF this Territory not TO be
30 represented on a political com
mittee rs 10 maintain balance be
tween the two districts. This is
shown Ia the organization OF Con-
gressional and State Committees
throughout the Union and in the Ma
tionsl Committee. Great and power
fnl as are the States OF New York.
Pennsylvania and Ohio. they have no
greater representation on the Ma
tlonal Committee than have the small
States OF Delaware. Connecticut and
Rhode Island
In the formation OF State Commit
tees It is customary in practically all
the States 10 give each congressional
district two members OF the State
Committee and no more. and at meet.
ings Of the State Committee no man
can vote a proxy except he be a resi-
dent Of the district from which the
proxy was issued. Committees are
thus made up everywhere for the ex-
press purpose OF preventing any one
district or political subdivision from
gaining an absolute sway over the
affairs OF the party at the expense OF
the other districts.
So Il Is In the makeup OF commit
tees f-r congressional districts in the
States. Each county or ward in the
Congressional district is given an
equal number Of members of the com
mittee regardless Of the population.
Tor the express purpose OF maintain
ing "a balance as between the respec-
tive subdivisions. or course in the
makeup OF conventions the number
OF delegates is based either upon the
population or upon the number OF
votes cast. but in the makeup OF
committees no such provisions hold
Take the average rural Congressional
district of the Middle States for ex-
ample. A district may be composed
Of six counties One OF these couu-
ties may have a population of SO 1000
while S me other county has a popu-
lation OF not more than IS GOO. In the
convention each county is given a del
cgatlon in proport on TO the votes
east for the party. but In making up
the Congressional Campaign Com
mittee the small county has the same
number OF members OF the ecmmlttee
that the large county has. Were this
not so the campaign and the general
party work might be neglected in the
small county at the expense OF the
large. II is wisely held that there
must be preserved a balance OF power
in the makeup OF committees so that
party work in one section will not be
neglected at the expense OF other
portions OF the district. Experience
has shown that this is the only eQui,-
able plan for political organization.
II the proposal TO limit the number
OF proxies 20 be held by any one mem.
Der Of the committee is TO rob mem
Der OF his right. as claimed By the
Thurston organ, then party organiza-
tons in the States have been rob
hing committee members OF their
rights in the States for many years.
Il is the general rule IN all the States
now. even down TO the county COM
mittees. not 20 allow any one TO hold
proxy al a meeting Of the commit
tee unless he be a resident OF the
precinct or district from which the
proxy is given. Such a rule would
hardly be practical in Hawaii owing
10 the difficulty OF outside members
reaching the capitol city for meetings
Of the committee. but the limiting Of
the number Of proxies TO be held BY
any enc man Is practical and is in line
with good politics as practiced in ev-
cry State Ia the Union.
This is a subject the committee
must settle and settle right II II d.
sires to see the Republican party Of
Hawaii placed on firm foundation.
AT meeting OF the Republican
Territorial Central Committee on