Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-13
WATSON FOR GOVERNOR

ity and enc that looks noI as Il very strong prob
ability. II' has 'lrlnt MS Of strength that both
J.. L. McCandlrSS and &. j. Waller lack, and
with anything like aggressive backing from til"
rank and file Of Hawaiian BuulbonSm1 Ir should
loom up Immediately as very import factor
in the situation that will confront the n w pr,>i-
dent when he accedS to office.
AS the Star-Bullctn said some months ago,
when Mr. WaSon'S name was first hrought for
ward by his friends it was largely question of
whether he felt himself physically able to UNDER
take the duties of the position. Should he de-
clare himS If willing to cntel vrraI years CT ~
acting toil,--for that is what the govrrnGrShip
of Hawaii demandS,-thcre would be II" doubt
of the stanch support he would b" given.
This statement, made not as any prOphC cy but
as comment on perfectly plain situation, has
been entirely borne out. Mr. Watson, an active
candidate for the past few weeks only. has al
ready received fattcrng assurances Of support
from many Democrats and many Republicans.
He has not and cannot expect to have, the in
tl0rsement of the Democratic organization such
as the territorial central committee or the coul-
w cOllInlIleP, DOlH Oh Witch are CtutIOlItl NY
McCandless supporters If the appointment Ct
governor fer Hawaii is to he determined by
Recommendations of the ttular bodies, in real
fly the wheels of the McCandless campaign or
ganizatiOn, McCandleSs for governor would be
foregr ne conclusion. What the friends of Wat
son say, and there seems abundant evidence that
they are justified in saying it, is that Mr. Wilson
is of progressive turn Of mind which locks fur
Their than Endorsements by party machinery.
Should Mr.. Wilson look into the r. gard of a
community for one CT it's men, he would find no
man more highly praised than Mr.. Watson and
no man who has received such personal ndOrse-
mentS, unless the two other candidates have con-
cealed the most important part of their backing.
The StarBulletin is not at liberty to make pub
lie now the list of local men who have given writ
rem or verbal evidence of their support, but the
people of Hawaii would be very generally sur
prised to find how widely that support has been
put forward for Watson. Some of the men in
the very first rank of territorial OfficialdOm have
1 sent letters to Mr.. Wilson approving the appoint
8 ment of the Democratic attorney, and among
these men are several who are active and stall
wart Republicans Furthermore, Watson is cas-
iy the best known of the three candidates in the
Influential circles of Washington. 1t is a mat
ter of common knowledge here, for instance, that
HE can count upon the personal work of dozen
or more leading Democratic senators and con-
gressmen. Some Of these have already begun to
bring before Mr. Wilson the candidacy CT Wat
son.
In due time the details of Watson'S backing
will probably be made public and will prove
it is largely of a nonpartison character. His
friends seem satisfied that he is nearly recov-
cred from his recent severe illness that he can
legitimately assure the people Of Hawaii of abil-
ity to carry on the tremendous work of the gov
ernors office OF his general qualifications there
aware He is popular in his profession, life
long Democrat, has been Il consistent and pr0mi
nent partv-Worker here, has the confidence OF
. leading businessmen, is regarded as independent
in thought and energetic in action and is of high
personal character.
=s Unquestionably he will draw support from
the party elements relied upon by both McCand
less and Waller McCandleSS has an advantage
in the party organization backing that may be
more apparent than real Only Wilson himself
can settle that question, for it will depend on to
what extent Wilson is going to be guided by the
Endorsements of party bodies. WatsonS active
entrance into the race at this time will be tn" sig
nal for the rcdoubling Of efforts by all factions
Republicans, meanwhile, have a good deal OF
hope that Governor FrPar will not be SO sum
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