Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-02
DECEMBER ., 1912
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PUT efficiency ABOVE DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

'Tammanyizing Honolulu seems to be the
aim of faction of the Democratic county com
mlttee, and this faction succeeded in getting
through the committee last Saturday night Il res
olution that is not only very poor politics for
the Democrats to play at this time but is utter
ly vicious in it's tendencies
Under the resolution engineered through by
"SOapboX' Barron, the Democratic party 'slall
place i'm every position only Democrats, and in
the manner provided by the rules of the Demo
cratic party" These rules in practical effect
are that candidates for office must be Endorsed
by precinct committeeman Of their respective
precincts
The intent of this resolution is quite plainly
to build up a political machine in Honolulu
along the lines that Tanlmany Hall maintains
in New York and that George B. Cox, the cor.
ruff Cincinnati boss, maintained in the Ohio
city until outraged public opinion smashed his
machine and drove him into dishonored oblivion.
1t is a machine built on the absolute power OF
the political bosses to control public office and
to keep public employees under their thumbs.
The resolution that went through the Demo
cratic committee contains a misrepresentation to
begin with. 1T -recites that Gin order to comply
with the Wishes of the people who elected them
to offices, that the Denlocratic party shall man.
age the city and county government
The Democratic ticket was elected to office
not because the candidates were Democrats, but
because they promised better city government
than Honolulu has had within the past TIVE
years. and because the voters of this city we're
tired Jof Republican acknowledgement and wanted
to put Republicans Outsof office and try another
set of men. 1t was ineffieency the voters re-
yolted against, -inefficiency, quarrelliDg and
unresponsiyeness to the will of the people-it
was not merely Republicans they voted against
The newly elected Democratic supervisors are
proceeding on a progSm of economy and eff
cheney that's promising and praiseworthy Even
the most partisan Republican must admit that
the Democratic supervisors are doing the RICH!
thing in planning now how they can save the
city money during their terms in office: and
moreover, including in their caucuses the only
Republican elected to the board.
The program of the Democratic supervisors
is efficiency but this bindly partisan resolution
does. not mean efficiency. 1t does not mean any
thing except that the first qualification for of
flee here is to be membership in some Democratic
precinct club instead of ability to do work.
The resolution is reputed to have the backing
of T. L. MeCandless, but it certainly does no
have the backing of the farseeing Democrats o
Honolulu. This city is aroused to tlRe-hecessit!
for running its government along sound bfsines
lines, and while such a resolution might swell
The Democratic precinct club lists with men will
ing to sell their votes for the sake of holding
their jobs in the road department or the clerk
office or the auditors office or some other office
it will breed such dissension among more public
spirited party members and such dissatisfaction
in the electorate at large as to defeat its owl
ends 49, r., ...-
Sheriff jarrett has~donet right thing il
declaring that he will not be hound by such
mercenary and nasty move to put politics allow
efficiency in Honolulu. The resolution ought t
be rescinded and the party ought to go clearl.
and sincerely on record for re1eeining its plat
form and campaign pledges of efficient govern
ment and capable administration
+ HDN0INII CARES