Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-20

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/ eentions in the last convention, in re-
iation to CALIFORNIA; contest"
Taking up the story of the fight for
representation in the convention 1t
self. beginning on Monday, August s.
Atkinson reports: r .T
The convention opened at noon and
elected temporary officers. Commit
tees were appointed, and / was Sc
lected on the rules. platform and no
tification committees.
Albert ]. 'Beveridge's speech con-
sumed the greater part of the after
noon. :I.enclose copy of same as part
of this report, commencing it partfcl-
larry to you, the members of the party
and to the people In general. Il was
really great speech. You viii find
! much good material in it. ~ = z%*ss
The rules committee had a short
meeting after the convention; then we
adjourned until So,clock in the even
ing. IT,
The rules, doubt, do not interest
you much, except our rule as 70 repre-
sentation throughout the United
States based upon Representatives,
| Senators and units of 5000 votes.
We also agreed upon q. rule to pre-
vent the old national committee from
having any control over the temporary
roll at the next convention; but the
fireworks" did not commence until
the question came up of representa-
ton of the Territories, insnlar posses
sions and the District Of Columbia. It
seemed to me that so or 80 per cent
OF the committee we're against giving
US even seat in the convention, much
less the right to vote. However. we
threshed the matter out for over four
hours that night, over twenty speak
ing against allowing us any represent
tation at all. / could see. where Ray
Stannard Bakers articses had been
thoroughly read and digested j attacks
We're notably directed against Hawaii.
The charges against US, apart from
our having no electoral votes, was that
We were not developing that country
along traditional lines, because Of our
cheap labor using Japanese and Fill
pinos for development, and that Only
a few men owned everything. It did
seem unjust that I, of all men, should
have to bear the brunt of such
charges, when Il have been doing so
much to remedy above conditions. con-
stantly working along lines to correct
our evils. However, / showed them
how much advance we have made
since annexation, what we developed
from working through the Board of
immigration, and showed them results
obtained in assisting the white inmi-
grant to develop and settle In Hawaii
to take the place of Oriental cheap
labor. Governor Otero and Governor
Curry came boldly to our support on
the Territorial quI stion. Al Mr.. Ham
flton, from Montana, who once. visited
Honolulu, also spoke in our favor, tell
ing them what good loyal Americans
we have there. He seemed much i'm
pressed with American development
in Hawaii. He was merely visitor
to Honolulu, and this shows the value
of entertaining all guests in ones
home.
+ played thes game all along the
line, and did my very best, but, / fear,
with no result. California opposed me
bitterly: l retorted most kindly and
gave them the neat thrust about ''in-
gratitude" but with the utmost kind
ness and in a .gentlemanly manner,
because | hoped to get their support.
But what lot of educating l had to
do about the question of insular pos
sessions, noneontiguous territory, and
territories in general. The members
of the committee would insist on class
flying US with the insular possessions
| particularly made a nuisance of my
self, however, in resenting such class
iffcation of the Territory of Hawaii.
| merely did it to educate the MEM
bers of the committee. | got laugh
from the committee generally; and
after repeating it about dozen times,
they seemed to realize the difference
between a full-fledged Territory and
an insular possession. A motion, how
ever, was finally carried that night,
giving Hawaii, District of Columbia
and Alaska a seat i'm the convention,
but without a vote Immediately af-
ter the meeting ! got hold of Medill
Mccormick and Mr.. O'Laughlin and
brought them over to the Blackstone.
where We threshed the thing all over
agafn-until long after midnight. Mr..
Mccormick is chairman of the rules
committee. | think we reached bet
ter understanding. Respectfully,
A. l.. C.. ATKINSON.
This closes the report, but Hawaii's
representation was not definitely set
tied until a day or two later, when
the convention finally gave this Terri
tory delegate in the convention with
vote and national committeeman
without vote, as already told in spe-
cial cabled news to the Star-Bulletin.