Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-10-16
MAKING PARTr PLlIfoRHs

Dne OF the difficulties that may arise undo
the operations of the direct primary law in Fl
waii is strongly illustrated in the Republican 81
uation in Massachusetts The Massachuset
held their state platform conye
ton week after the primary nominations #
governor Augustus p. Gardner, the Republics
nominee at the primaries, now refuses to stan
on his party platform, declaring that it is M
progressive enough for him.
Gardner was member of the platform CO.
vention. and took part in the deliberations of Il
body. The circumstances leading up to his spl
are told as follows:
Congressman August p. Gardner, who had before
repudated the committee, declared at the end
Of sharp fight in the Republican state convention
that he would run for the goyernorship on. plat
form Of his own
This new turn In the political situation followed
the defeat OF the candidate in four successive at
tempts to amend the resolutions so as to make the
platform square with his assertions on the stump
when the fight ended Mr. Gardner figuratiyely tore
up hts prepared speech Of acceptance and substituted
4 three-minute talk on Progressive Republicansm
He explained that as the four cardinal points In his
address had been rejected his set speech was use-
less.
In his speech he said
Il am not unmindful Of the duty which owe to
the other candidates. or the duty to this con-
yention. but there are omitted from this platform
four Of the principal issues upon which have been
waeing my campaign Now i know that my duty to
the other candidates conflicts With my duty to the
10000 or whatever the number was, Who nominated
me- ~ sFanmN
II went throughout the length and breadth Of this
commonwesith and adxocated the real restriction e
immigration advocated minimum wage Tor Wo-s
men. j advocated the use Of the STATE credit, 70 as
stat suburban homeseekers and relieve the sconges
ton il the cities advocated the compulsory pub
city Of the facs in important labor disputes and TO
an these things am committed, gentlemen. and !
cannot consent to 20 before the people Of this COM
monwealth and take one position before am nomi5
mated and another position after am nominated
II was asked what I would do If this committee
on resolutions did not put the panks in the PLATFORM
said could make my own platform and would
run ON that because can't do anything else These
ooo neoule voted for me on the suppositon that
meant what said. and I am not going to make
any change.
..r regret very much that / must make campaign
hefore the people OF the commonwealth asking them
70 support me in putting through certain measures
Various students of the direct primary la
passed by the last territorial legislature hay
the difficulty in guaranteeing tina
he candidate of any party will support the pla
orm. Nothing in the law itself will make hiI
10 so. -
Here is another opportunity for the Republic
in party rules to strengthen and uphold the spil
{ of the new primary law The law provide
hat candidates for nomination at the primarie
hall file, at least twenty days before the pr
nary date nomination papers in which the
tate: their party utilization and give a pledge t
lphold the party platform. But there is no per
llty for failing to comply with the law.
In revising the Republican rules, there Nigh
'ery well be inserted "a provision requiring tina
III candidates on the Republican ticket shall ce1
ify in writing to the territorial central commit
ee or the county committee their determination
Q stand by the party platform. In case sucl
pledge is not given direct to the party organize
ion by any candidate, the organization viii
lave every right to refuse support to that can
lidate. As between bona fifle members of TIL
,arty, the organization should not discriminat
'efore the primary election unless a candidate
$ personally and plainly corrupt or incompe
the party organization has a right t,
lemand of those who run on its ticket that the,
tand squarely by the platform. ~.
The stumbling block in Massachusetts, is tina
he platform convention is held after the prima
les. A candidate nominated at the primarie
nay thus, be forced to accept a platform witt
which he does not agree or else risk the goodwill
f his party by repudiating the platform, a
Gardner has done, and make the fight on tn
ssues he fayors personally. ~. =