Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-02
CHIEF THIRsTON INDICATED

Objections to Chief Thurston of the fire de-
partmcnt, raised by Mr.. K. ii. Trent and urged
less openly by number Of Democrats who evil
IDENTIFY view the dc partmcnt as a potential
stronghold of political patronage, were answered
promptly, completely and alphabetically by the
firenen themselves iii 'tfit communication pub
lishcd by thc. star-Dulletin Yesterday <*
This paper takes peculiar pleasure in pre-
scntipg the statcm mt of the firemen, because,
after all, TIE men who know the chief best are
the men who work directly under him. If there
we're foo much politics in his department, they
would know it first. If the chief were forcing
his firemen to rent cottages from him, if he were
making this a practice for the sake of the reye7
nue. derived, the firefnen would know it first and
probably would have complained, long ago. Ger
tainly, at a,time when the chief is under public
attack, the fircmen would not have come SO
promptly to his defense if they felt ill-treated,
abused or mulcted for his financial benefit
Forty-three firemen signed a letter defending
the chief against both the accusation of PERM
cious actiVity in politics in his department and
the accusation that he is using his official posi-
tion as club to rent his cottages to subordnates
in the department. Does anyone believe that the
chiefs men would so quickly and frankly rally
to his defense unless he has their yhole-hearted
support? And, il the accusations are true is
there any possibility that he could have such sup
port?
We believe that Mr.. Trent has been misin-
formed. Without question this lively little con-
troycrxy. has strengthened the chief greatly in
public opinion. Thurston has come out with the
credit Of having his department behind him.
We do not believe that the mayor and super
visors will drop Chief Thursten. Public scnti-
ment is too well united against such plan and
several members of the board, We feel assured,
have no idea of sacrificing efficiency to politics.
The danger is that some other position in the de
partment, that of assistant chief, probably, will
be made the political plum for party picking.
The present assistant chief, w. Blaisdell, has
risen from the ranks and Chief Thurston says
that if he himself were disabled in fighting a
fire. his assistant could carry the department
forward. -
The present organization of the department
is good. 1t is one Of the few branches of city
government that has not been made the target OF
complaint on the score of inefficiency. AS a
matter Of practical politics, it is to be recognized
that the Democratic party has to satisfy a host
of clainoring brethren who helped vote that
party into power. But the Democrats should
recognize also that it was the independent Re,
publican voter in this last campaign who swung
the balance toward the Democrats. The indie
pendent Republican was the man who turned the
tide Of victory to DeanocRacy. And the indie
pendent Republican voters, together with plenty
Of good Democrats, plenty of them, ARE abso
lutely opposed to any plan of patronage that will
make the fire department the football of poll
tics. $50 It-..fs +. I. - ss''sG=