The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-10-01

Whose paper before the civic convcn.
ton 1T Hlo is charitable uocu-
mcnt.
*S:s,ar s;s< = X X i. 4. !; =: y. X x ;Asstsxs
law which would emhody the principles
of the initiative, referendum and re-
call. 1t would be impossible, at this
/ time. TO outline more than summary
of the fundamental principles which
houlG o., m this c8ss of local legisla.
ton. The following, however, cover the
salient points:
1.-The Initiative: If a certain per
/ centage of voters wish certain mea-
\ sure adonted they can submit it to the
board of supervisors, which must, in
turn. submit it to a referendum.
'The Referendum: If a certain num-
her of voters demand an opportunity 70
-'c' "ron measure. the board of sup
ervisors must submit it TO them, and
the people decide by vote whether it
shall or shall not become law.
1.-The Recall: If a certain percentage
of voters demand the right to decide
whether pubic official shall continue
to hold office or must retire to private
life, the question must be submitted to
the people at an election. The recall
petition should be accompanied by de-
finite charges of iifcompetency or cor
rupt practice, and signed by not less
than twenty-five per cent. of the total
voters in the county.
Political Conditions
1.-THE political conditions existing in
these Islands are such that they must
he seriously considered in line with any
remedial legislation or substantial re-
forms which can be expected in connec-
ton with our county governments. I'm
less we can eliminate the long4exploded
notion that civic government is po-
lrtical institution and substitute in its
stead the principle that the united
energies of every taxpayer are demand
ed to build up the public machine, we
cannot expect any radical change in
the present mismanagement of our local
affairs.
Let us endeayor to analyze the pres
emit situation in regard to the status of
the voters in the Territory, and their
willingness to assume the responsible
titles of citizenship. The total number
of registered voters at the general cleo
ton in 1910 was l4,142. OF this num-
, Der, 9619 were Hawaiians, 1880 Portu-
guese, 1876 Chinese, 13 Japanese and
1854 Anglo-Saxons. OF the total num-
, Der of male citizens of voting age in
; 1910, there were only two Hawaiian
r voters in every 100 who failed to regis.
! ter; of the Portuguese, there were
twenty-five voters in every 100 who
failed TO register; forty-one Chinese
voters in every 100; severity five per
. cent. of the Japanese; while the Anglo
, Saxon record shows that only fifty per
lal -,
! chise, although the assessed values of
. their real and personal property hold
ings IN the Territory amounted to cover
eighty per cent. of the total territorial
/ holdings. and aggregating the large SUN
! of 1924, 12s. 604.
1.-THE total Hawaiian holdings, on
the other hand, was only eight per cent
Of the total territorial holdings. If we
had a property restriction here whidh
would govern the franchise, the p0liti
: cal situation might readily adjust itself
: TO present requirements. With an elect.
orate, however, so unevenly balanced
: and our problems of local government
. becoming yearly more difficult of solu
= ton, our present situation is one which
/ demands the serious consideration of all
2 our public spirited citizens.
our present local political situation. II
; was felt that there was something
gratifying and inspiring in the spec.
tacle of the counties rising to the
height of lf-government. With an era
of UNPARALLELED business prosperity
knocking at our very doors, the great
: question of popular control with us il
not how best to keep the rank and fiie
under party discipline. but how to make
it possible for the enlightened and in.
telligent voter with his ballot in his
hand on election day to become a real
, factor in determining the character of
our local government
Favors Direct Primary.
"The growing demand on the main
land for direct primary laws, by which
all candidates for office are nominated
by direct voting rather than thrhugh
the caucus or convention, might wei! be
, extended to our local elections. What
ever the advantages, theoretical or
practical, of the convention system, its
doom is clearly written. We cannot, by
any possibility, successfully operate a
party which is organized on natiJual
and state lines, and fit that party TO a
municipal election. 1t never has been
done, and il never will be done.
"That we should have n Primar.
Election Law for our counties, in nv
opinion, cannot he denied, and such "A
law should leave the counties the righr
TO choose either the direct nominating
system or nomination by petition; II
the latter plan is adopted, then IT might
, be well TO provide for preliminary
election for the purpose Of choosing two
,, candidates for each Office. The direct
primary law, modelled after the Berke.
| ley, California, plan would. / believe.
more nearly meet our county require
ments.
at would also suggest the passage of
} n statute by the Legislature strictly de.
, dniur enrruut rraetfea IN rao.vA a. Ar