The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-03
DEMOCRATS AND WILCOX.

Democrats IN their new -DOI II ZCei III
the Home Rule candidate, whose quail
tiles they were publicly disparaging as
late as the 14th of July, now explain
his failure in Congress by the state
rnent that he was serving his first term
and. not having had time to acquire IN
fiuence, could not be expected to make
much Roadway.
This matter of terms is an error OF
recollection. Mr.. Wilcox served during
half of the term of the last previous
Congress and was there long enough TO
learn the ropes. 1t was them Dy al
amazing exhibition of incompetence
even in a new member, that ne spolled
the chance to pass the Hawaiian com
age bill. His second term began last
March and he is now running Tor
third term. 1t was in the second, not
the first term, that his fourteen con-
spicuous failures were scored ana
when, with billion dollars in course
of public distribution, he was so busy
trying to get through private franchise
bills for his friends that he did not op-
tain nickel for Hawaii. And he lost
the franchise bills in the bargain.
1t is unsafe to say that Wilcox mad
no chance. He had every chance II we
NAV believe his letters home and the
assertions of his private newspaper.
who was it that the leading Congress-
men delighted to honor? Wilcox says
it was Wilcox and Caypless backs him
I'D. Who was the recipient of so many
attentions from the President? WILCOX
declares in his modest way that the
Hawaiian Delegate was the man. So
vast was the Wilcox influence accord
ing to the Wilcox partisans, that even
the Home Rule platform gloried in it
as follows:
This party expresses its high appreci-
alton of the good will shown by the
President and all the officers of the
Executive Department of the United
States. for the people of this Territory
in THEIR COOPERATION WITH
HAWAII'S DELEGATE. We also give
our thanks to the Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes of the several States and
also to the Delegates of the Territories
of the Union inNCongress for the AS
SISTANCE WHICH HAWAII'S DEL
EGATE RECEIVED from them in his
legislative duties. With gratitude we
thank the AMERICAN PEOPLE for
the kindness that they expressed for
OUR DELEGATE during the time he
had been confined to bed by sickness,
If all this is true how can it be said
that Wilcox had not been given the
time to acquire influence enough to
pass single bill? If the cooperation
of the President and all the executive
officers, the assistance of all the Sena-
tors and Representatives and Delegates
and the sympathetic kindness of the
American people were not enough to
enable Wilcox to pass a single meas
ure, what can be expected of him if
he returns to Washington as a men,
Der of the minority party, opposed to
the Executive and cabinet and to the
majority of the Congress and the vot-
ers?
The Democracy has not improved
Wilcox's position much by it's apologies
for him. Truth Of better flavor is to
be found in its past Characterization,
as for instance when Chairman Nc
Carthy said: "At Washington Hawaii
has obtained nothing through Wilcox.
He was there presumably to represent
Hawaii, but he represented only him
self. He had no ability" Or when
National Committeeman Cornwell said:
'As for Wilcox, the Democrats gener
ally eoncede that the nomination of
Cupid means the political death of Will
cox and K,alauokalani and the rise of
a progressive Hawaiian spirit in place
of the old Bourbon methods practiced
by the original Home Rule party" Or
when Committeeman Terrell said:
wilcox is a dying figure in politics.
He only stands for $500 month and
mileage"