Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-28
Islands Not a Possession But
an Integral Part OF United
States With Broad Self
Governing Powers
PICTURESQUE POLITICS
AND GOOD LEGISLATION
"Home Rule" Idea Strongly
Developed and Endorsed BY
Congressional Action - Is
Working Toward Statehood
By ROBERT W. eREckoNs.

The average tourist is not always
surprised at the splendid climate OF
Hawaii, at its up-to-date business
methods, the hospitality of it's people
and the wonderful panorama afforded
by its scenery. The Promotion Com
mittee has too well performed its
task to permit much ignorance as to
these matters to prevail.
But that same average tourist-and
may LIS tribe increase-has somewhat
dim and haZy notions about our form
of government. Ordinarily he has so
many troubles of his own at home
along this line that he cannot give
much consideration to those Of Ha-
wall. Should he come from one OF
those states in which initiative, refer
endum and recall are accredited with
scriptural authority, he is kept more
than busy studying how to mark his
own barn-door ballot, and has not time
enough to consider or care how Ha.
waii conducts her affairs.
HAWAII A NEW TERRITORY.
Should the blessed ones, escaping to
the Paradise of the Pacific for a va
cation, care to look into the political
side of Hawaii, they will receive more
than one jolt. True, indeed, Hawaii has
been part and parcel Of the United
States for but few short years, as
the lives of nations count. True, in
deed, Hawaii had been a Republic for
but a short time before annexation,
and always before the formation Of
that republic, I monarchy. Thus
much the tourist knows from the
school books which his children study.
On the bare, premises he is justified
in believing that our ideas Of civil
government must of necessity be.
crude. -.......s
But let him look. when he comes here,
beyond what these school books have
taught. He will be surprised to dis.
cover that for more than half CEN
fury the government of Hawaii has
been conducted-no matter what the
formal name of the government may
have been-along the lines Of that OF
the United States, and that the pre-
sent generation of natives of Hawaii
has just as keen q perception Of the
rights and duties Of a. citizen of the
United States perhaps keener--than
his brother on the mainland. The
Bill of Rights which Jefferson insist.
ed should, by amendments, be made
part and parcel of the American Con-
stitution, has been in force in. Hawaii,
in most of its essentials, since the ear
ly SOS.
POLITICS UP.To-DATE. 1881
Having learned this our tourist may
make inquiry as to the practical work
ing of the system. Once more, should
his inquiry be intelligently and dill
gently pursued, will he be surprised.
For in carrying on the government, in
holding elections, in selecting candi-
dates for office, he will find that the
Hawaiian voter is up-to-date. Per.
haps one or two frills which adorn
such affairs in jurisdictions on the
mainland may be missing, but they are
frills which some Of our frank visitors
may admit are by no means essential
to honest elections and intelligent, ca
pable government.
For the benefit OF the tourist, Just a
few facts as to how elections and gov
eminent are conducted. AS to the lat
ter little need be said by way Of in
struction. Most r1ainlanders are well
acquainted with what has been for a
long while known as the territorial