The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-01-06
POLITICAL REroRMs.

| taxing q aforeHloht pobitioh ~
genuine reform OF political methods,
although the movement in that diree-
tion is almost uniform throughout the
Union. County and municipal admin
istrations have been hot-beds OF cor
ruption ami 1t is to them that par
ticular attention is directed. II may
be observed that the Job-chasers and
small politicians in Hawaii, who seek
to extend and perpetuate grating by
the adoption of cumbersome system
OF county government for the benefit
of $4,000 inhabitants, more than two
thirds of whom are Ineligible to citi-
zenship, will derive very little COM
fort and no support from the main
of petty offices is uncompromisingly
opposed by the business community
and by the industrial classes generally
and in municipalities and counties,
the tendency is strongly towards the
concentration of power and RESPONSE
biity in few officers, who are within
the control of voting citizens. alive TO
their duties as well as to their priv
ileges. President Roosevelt, in his an
nual message, insists that Washington
shall be made a model capital, but he
does not propose that this result be
accomplished by changing the present
sy.tem of government, administered
through Commissioners.
tn, r,li i,
mination that both administration
and elections shall be clean, and the
head of the proposition that all citi-
zens shall lend their personal assist
ance to this end is the Merchants As
ISOLATION of San Francisco, composed
of substantial men, who have already
proved the controlling power of or
ganizaton, irrespective of party. There
were two elections in San Francisco
within the past year. At the first,
Fairfax Wheelan and his son, with
some assistance, exposed palpable
frauds, and secured the indictment and
punishment of some of the guilty
rascals, by whom they had been con-
fronted at the polls At the November
election three hundred of the best citi-
zens attended the booths during the
entire day, and 1t is generally
acknowledged that, in that election,
; the intelligent will of the voters was
honestly expressed.
The primaries are receiving special
notice and 1t is intended that, when
primaries are held, the stores and
/, banks shall be closed. Above all, that
numerous class Of citizens who pre-
| Of NJ, n,.ie. taar
bility by taking no part in politics and
even by refraining from the exercise
of their election franchise are un-
mercifully lashed as traitors to their
country and bad element in the
family and in society. This drastic
criticism was most severe and abun-
dant at the late annual dinner of the
Merchants Association, when it's own
: energy was strengthened by the tesrl-
II mony of invited speakers of great polit
n zeal experience. The subject discussed
l. was THE Citizens Duty at the Polls,
and there was general expression thai
d party should be subordinated in munic.
20 ipal politics. In his Introductory re.
marks President Symmes, who Is al.
ways plain-spoken and intelligible
:. said: I'VE have temporarily suspend.
:, ed our interest in street sweeping ant
- we have taken up the sweeping of the
polls II. d. Loveland administered
i remarkable castigation to the alb.
sentees at primaries and elections. II,
- told them distinctly that they were
/ more to blame than politicians who
i ARE in politics for what there rs II
g It," and who knew that at the prima.
l. ries which respectable" citizen,
5, were too busy to attend they helped
e to arrange the tickets that you" 9TH,
ID respectable" citizens) were about Il
= vote" He also put this trenchan
d, question to the subjects of his ex
ID coriation: Are you aware that Il
costs more to run the city government
or New York than it does the CIV
government of the United States?"
James d. Phelan, formerly Mayor o
~ San Francisco, said that the Greek
ie had made partial success of their re
public because their citizens particip
III ated In the government" and objecte
vigorously to that civic indifference
~ which too frequently causes the fla
y. OF our country to be thrust aside b
" the red flag of the political auctioneel
LAG NcNiuISu tiit CittSeIS VINO go 1Sn
VI Ing and hunting on election day "ar
;" not entitled to the protection of tn
he laws" Gavin McNab, deeply verse
~ in party management but of unsu.
!. pected integrity, was full of pitt
When all men vote at the primaries
i. he said, 1.-The practical politician wi
-, be without practice and the profe
sional politician hunting honest work
q, The battle, he stated Is mot so muC
-, to get men to vote right as to e
"a them to vote at all" He added that
was more important to live for Il
country than to die for it, and epitor
~, lied his experience in the phrase: "Tl
tnn only practical politics l know consis
~ in voting"
Gov These are brief references to a pr
oh gressive movement that already has
so successful past, and they are full
ats suggestions to our own citizens.
are this territory. general and intellige
ner voting at primaries and elections