The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-09-07
MERCHANTS TO
TAKE A HAND
IN THE CANVASS
viii Not Put Up Money for a Shaky Platform
and Yellow Dog Ticket---Warnng
to The Machine.

Politics received an impetus yester-
day when the leading merchants of
Honolulu met in the makai ball room
of the Young for the purpose of con-
sidering men and measures to be adopt
ed at the next session of the Legisia-
ture and the next election. Reputable
candidates will be endorsed by the
merchants.
The gathering was representative OF
the best interests of the city the fol-
lowing gentlemen being present: r. b.
Booth, Clarence Cooke, E. o. White,
j. P Cooke, w. NJ. Giffard, ]. F. Nor
gan, F. J. Lowrey, w. A. Bowen. Will
lard Brown, Fred L. Waldron, A. T..
Brock. A. Garvie, A. N. Campbell. J..
w. Wakefield, E. II. Paris, I. Give
Davies, M. Brasch, J. r. Gait, G. p.
Wilder. D. L. Wilmington, E. D. Ten
ney, E. Faxon Bishop. E. C. Brown,
Geo. Angus, f. NJ. Swanzy. H. P. Wood,
w. r. Harrington, Geo. Rodiak, Fred
Macfarlane, Arthur Wall. L. e. Pink
ham, L. NJ. Whitehouse, j. A Nc
Candless Geo w. Smith, Eugene
On motion of E. D. Tenney, James F..
Morgan was called to the chair and
H. P Wood appointed secretary. The
chair announced the object of the
meeting as desire on the part of the
business community for an opportunity
to present measures, and perhaps the
names of men to be voted for. He did
not think the merchants had taken
sufficient interest in elections in the
past, the interest being confined prin-
cipally to digging UP funds for the
campaign. Nominations had been made
without considering the business inter-
ests or the men who provided the
money that ran the campaign. En-
ployes had seen the lack of interest in
the employers and had drifted natural
ly toward the machine and voted with
it, He thought this should be changed
and it would be If the object of this
gathering was carried out. There has
been a suggestion that a plank be in
serted in the platform of one of the
political parties raising the assessment
on property to one and one-half per
cent but he did not think this should
be done off hand. He called for ex-
pressions of opinion on this and any
other matters relevant to the business
of the meeting.
J. p. Cooke said that in order to get
the ball rolling he would move the
adoption of a resolution favoring the
appointment of a tax commission who
will thoroughly investigate the system
of the tax laws and report to the Leg
islature This should not be done hur-
riedly, he said, but should be handled
carefully and the report could best
be made two years hence. He sug-
.&aI IN ha
platform of the parties so that the can
didates may say that they have been
nominated upon a platform providing
for such changes. Thought it advls-
abb to give only the views of the gen
tlernen present at this time.
Faxon Bishop said he could not say
whether it was wise to offer an amend
nent to the motion. He thought 1t
would be good thing to have the
plank fixed up so that it would pre-
vent an attempt at tax tinkering IN
the next session of the Legislature.
Mr. Gait said he believed that any
matter, taxes or anything else, that
would bring out such an attendance
as was present should have prompt at
4ention. The business men have shown
that they are sufficiently interested TO
be present and take part and for that
plank of this nature be placed in the
platform.
George w. Smith favored this and
said the merchants are the ones calledl
Iipon to furnish the sinewS of war and
he felt that it was their right to de-
Inand that this action be endorsed by
the parties to the extent that the plank
be inserted. When a man is nominated
upon such platform he will have the
respect of the people.
Mr.. Cooke said he did not know
whether it was exactly proper to make
it in the form of a demand: request
would be better. Mr.. Smith spoke
again on the matter and said he was
willing TO put it more mildly ana call
IL a request but when the motion was
put the first form was adopted. Mr.
Harrington said he did not think 1t was
correct to have the Legislature DO
more than provide for the commission;
the matter of appointment could come
later. Mr. Morgan spoke of the IN
sufficiency of the appropriation Tor the
Board of Health and Mr.. P1nkham
gave in detail the account of the ap-
ton and the expenses. He had
favored establishing an emergency
fund and recommended an approprla-
ton of sS5. .000 but the Legislature re-
duced the amount to $4,000. He had
called .upon the merchants for aid after
this appropriation had been exhausted.
The matter will come to focus IN
January and he would have to call for