The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-06
InE CONTEST FOR DELEGATE.

T+. defeat Of Wilcox by decisive
ma iority La quite within tie power Oh
the Republican and Democratic pertles-
Han these parties voted as one In 1soo'
the Home Rule nominee would nave
beea swamped- His success was that
of = plurality. not Of majority cahoi-
date. The number of votes cast Tor
him Ter Delegate to the 57th Congress
was <1oS, but there was DIVIDED De-
tween his opponents 5501 votes. DIFF
ference against him of 1888 In otner
words. il the. Republicans and Demo-
Gratis hsd fused. and held their whole
strength, wilcox would have been de-
ferted by nearly 400 majority. There
is ne reason to think that losses by the
fusion would have. been at all import
ant. 1885, 5Ase
Again. IL the Republicans had work
ed in harmony and IL the business men
had taken part in the contest, the Re
p,,s,sfcan vote could have been made
mudh larger at the expense OF the
Home Rule vote. But schemes were
laid which naturally imposed no duties
of harmony upon the friends Of the Re-
publican Territorial administration
and the canvass was Influenced by po-
lfticaI rancof and reSen tments. More
over there was. among men OF recognize
ed influence. an unheaithfui degree OF
apathy. The public was not really
awake to the need of competent Del.
egate nor were the width and depth of
wiicox's Incompetence understood Nell
Their can it escape notice that many
men of political standing were so busy
making money In that prosperous time
and so eager to make more, that they
neglected the plain duties OF politics.
Hence we got Wilcox by the narrow
chance of plurality and the supple
mentary curse of a Home Rule Legis-
iature elected by both pluralities and
majoritieS
Prospects haxfs changed very much
for the better in two years. There is
bolt In the Home Rule ranks led by an
ALI of wide popularity; and the adVo-
Gates Of Wilcox are forced to explain
as best they can, the failure OF their
leader to carry out his campaign
pledges or TO gain any kind of standing
in Congress. In the Home Rule party,
outside the boiling element. is a peculiar
indifference and apathy. Republicans
and Democrats are not nearly so intent
as they were two years ago on party
lines In local affairs but are coming to-
getier upon q platform Of competence
in Office and good government for the
people. Harmony is also growing be-
tween the two factions of the Republic
can party, and business men and other
leaders OF affairs. no longer absorbed
in speculation, are. SO anxious TO
economist that they have developed
lively interest In the relation of politics
to taxes. What Is promised Is an inn
meuse and general turnout at the
potts. anticipated by the hardest and
most effective kind Of campaign work.
The enormous pswer of the employing
class win be used as never before to
get good government: the islands Will
be thoroughly organized; the anti-Wil-
cox mea Will mean business. Taking
all this into consideration with the very
marked increase. through immigration.
of the Republican and Democratic
streasth. and the political doom OF
WILCOX and OF the ideas he represents
would seem to be as sure as anything
in the future can be.