The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-22
PLAYING POLITICAL
 CAME IN HAWAII Object Lesson In Handling Diff
 ferent Races FOR THE COMMON GOOD The HaWaiians Are Born Politicians, Will Cooper Visits Meeting of
 Precinct Political Club and
 Tells of Methods.
FOR THE COMMON GOOD
BY WILL. COOPER.

Honolulu, Hawaii.
 I attended a meeting of a Republica precinct club in Honolulu a short time ago at which plans were being formu- lated for the appointment of delegates to represents the body at the coming district convention. The experience was interest ing and incidentally threw some light on some of the reasons why Hawaii does not have race problems in the sense that Americans of the mainland understand the term.
 The meeting was attended by upwards of 1000 voters comprising at least three nationalities and various admixtures of -Hawaiians. Portuguese, and Amer jeans, or more properly of American par entage. since all present are American citizens under terms of the Territorial Organic act. The chairman is a 'haole, as persons of Caucasian blood, excepting the Portuguese, are generally spoken or here. He is a man of wealth and intiu- ence, the president of one of the lead ing commercial bodies in the islands, and is the leading spirit in a dozen important business enterprises. Although born in Honolulu where he has spent most of his life, he is ln every way a refutation of the idea that energy and the tropics are antithedc.
 The secretary of the club, who sat at the end of a long table at the chairman's s right, has the dark eyes and olive skin of the Latins. He is Portuguese, appa- rently under 90 years of age, and, al- though an immigrant, has spent most of his life in the territory He has been d representative in the Territorial legisla- ture for one term, and is candidate for reelection If q good record counts for anything In Hawaiian politics he IS cer- tain of realizing his ambition.
 Before the meeting was called to order the voters present stood about the hall and upon the sidewalk near the entrance, in groups of half dozen or more and talked quietly, and joked in tones ulal would not have attracted comment Tn d drawing room. At one side and nttle apart, a quartet of singers with guitars and ukuleles, made melody that suggest ed d moonlight serenade, and contrasted strangely with ones American ideas Of a political meeting with it's noisy talk, smoky atmosphere, and blaring brass band.
 The chairman called the meeting to or der with nBnJ rap or HIS hhuShAoS OAi the table, and by inviting those present to occupy seats in the front part Of the l hall When this had been compiled wlth | he stated that the roll of the precinct club at the time showed upwards or 2oo names, and invited any present who had not yet joined the club to come forward and subscribe their names. Several per sons did so. The chairman then stated that the precinct had a high reputation to maintain, and that it would be unfortu- nate should there be any dissatisfaction on the part of any person or group or persons To guard against such possl- biIty, he suggested that a nominating committee be selected to nominate dele gates to the district convention, the three nationalties, "haoles, Portuguese and Hawaiians to be equally represented In the twelve nominees to be named. He explained very carefully and in detail, that no one was compelled to support the nominees to be named by the com mittee but at the precinct convention might nominate any other persons ne chose.