The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-10-31
M CLANAHAN
TO W. o. SMITH
A REPLY BY THE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE TO THE RECENT
ADDRESS BY SMITH

The following is an open letter by
Candidate Mechanism to Hon. w. O.
smith:
Honolulu, Oahu, oct. 30, 1906.
To the Honorable w. O. Smith Re
publican Candidate for the Ha-
waiian Senate.
Sir:-Your candidate for Hawaits
official representative in Congress is
reported as saying, tina, he has no
answer to make to McClanahan's issue
about Cuba" and you, as candidate
Of the same party, pledged 20 support
him. have honored me with IT reply.
l take the liberty Of giving my an
swer to you in an open letter for the
reason that it will be my only means
for the present of giving it the pub
Lefty I desire.
You wild admit, that since this cam
paign opened you have known of the
position taken by me in regard to
Hawairs duty on this subject; you
will also admit that last night at Aala
Park was your first serious attempt
publicly to answer my contentious;
you will also admit that your answer
was reduced to writing and read at
that meeting.
1t Is fair therefore to presume, that
with three weeks for preparation Of
written argument, you have given
to the people your best effort
I will not discuss the personal and
facetious illusions contained in your
reply other than to suggest their in
appropriateness in the discussion of a
question admittedly of grave import
to our commercial life.
You know that my contention is,
that Cuban annexation is to be accom-
pished, if at all, through the Repub-
lican party on the mainland. This you
have not answered other than to say,
that I am seeking "tO give the impress
sion y that the Republican
party on the mainland favors this an
| nexation." You are right as to what
seek, but you have failed to an
swer my contention that Cuban an
nexation, if it comes at all, will come
through the Republican party.
You know that my contention also
! is that the Democratic party on the
mainland is opposed to Cuban anneXa-
! ton. This contention you do not even
refer to in your written reply.
You know also that my further con-
| tention is, that the public sentiment
of the United States today is express
ed in the Teller Amendment" Joint
Resolution of April 90, 1S9S), and that
annexation of Cuba can not be ac-
complished by the forces now favoring
it, until this sentiment has changed
! This you neither admit nor deny.
You also know that my contention is
that Hawaii's work to prevent Cuban
annexation lies in her acting as a Ter
ritOry, in the coming election, so as tC
exercise some influence. no matter how
slight it may be, on this public opinion
which stands today as the only barrier
between Hawaii and Cuban anneXa,
ton. Your only reply to this is a buf.
foonish personal allusion IN which
am made to appear before Presider
Roosevelt as Hawairs Apostle" se
lected "Uo come and educate the Am
erican people,"
All this, Mr.. Smith, is not what
had expected from a gentlemen Of you
known ability and standing, as an an
swer to a matter affecting so vital.
the prosperity of this Territory.
Perhaps l am mistaken in assumin.
that you have known the contention
I have been making. If SO, I sugges
that considering t admitted impor
lance of the subject it would nave beel
the part of wisdom to have informe
yourself before attempting to max
! reply, and in order to give you tn
opportunity Of making a cllarer an
swer, now that you have a better un
Outstanding Of my position, ! sugges
that you and l present 10 the cleo
torate of Honolulu our views, som
evening before the election, from tn
same platform. You may name you
own conditions touching my offer c
, public debate with you on the Cuba
, question and Hawaiis duty concern
; ing the same in the coming election
> Awaiting your early reply, I remain
p Respectfully yours,
- E. y. McCLANAHAN.
; Democratic Candidate for Delegate
Congress.