Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-04-21
THE PARTY GOVERNMENT.

The proposed rules for the govern.
rent of the Republican party publish
ell in this issue constitute the frame.
work and suggestions for party gov.
on which final action will be
taken by the Territorial Committee at
the regular meeting next Saturday.
The details of these rules are worthy
the thoughtful consideration of all Re
publican voters, and the committee
will be assisted in its work if party
workers will submit suggestions in
writins.
The report submitted by the sub.
committee follows in geenral the spirit
and intent of the action taken at the
Territorial convention. Inc discus.
sion will likely center on matters of
detail in order to make the machinery
OF party government practically uppli.
cable to conditions in the country dis.
tricts as well as Honolulu.
Discussion relative to the so.called
open" and CLOSED" primaries, with a
view to reversing the action of the con.
vention, is entirely out of place at this
time and serves only to arouse sharp
antagonism in party ranks. The organ.
ization is bound by the general rules
laid down by the convention. Those
rules provided that amendments could
Je made by the Territorial Committee
but they also carried the positive in
junction that all changes should follow
the general lines laid down by the con
vention. If party unity is to be pre-
served the committee will not assume
revolutionary prerogatives.
Should the individuals now suggest
ing colonization and attacking the in
tCgrity OF party followers determine to
force a fight upon the party over this
question the Bulletin is prepared to
prove that the men advocating strict
compliance with convention dictates
have at all times held their following
which voted at the primaries true tC
Republican principles and straight
party vote, while those making a pro
test against the present primary Law
employed men and voted men at the
primaries who Immediately after join
ID the active workers of the chief op
losing party. The decision should be
made. however. and the discussion
based upon the broad grounds of the
maintenance of party integrity
through recognition of convention au
thority.
The rules as at present framed de
not in any sense contemplate opening
the Republican primaries to all voter
Of the Territory. The attempted hui
and cry regarding movement amonD
outsiders to capture the Republican
primaries is silly. If the party seek
an additional safeguard, other thai
the integrity of its party workers,
cen. and indeed it might well, reQuir
voters at all primaries to subscribe I
pledge of allegiance to the Republ
( con party and intention to vote tn
h Republican ticket at the fall election
p The justice of such a course cannot b
o inpeached. Every Republican who wi
be able to qualify as a voter at TN
EaXt election ought to have a voice
party management and the nominatio
, ~ party candidates. Any measure
reduce the party strength in the pr
naries is certain to react upon its vo
ihP power in the election.
That portion of the rules which r.
lates to the nomination of Senator's
candidates by Representative district
may well be eliminated together wit
mGny general provisions dealing wit
, subjects better left to the good judi
: ment Of territorial. District and Pr
| cinct officers. As much freedom Q
possible should be given these officer
, The less specific direction in matter
Of administration given them the be
tet,