Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-24
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

The Democratic TERRITORIAL PLATFORM, drafted
IN secret and adopted in secret by a very few
members of the Democratic party, is a dOcu-
ment that will immensely strengthen Republi-
can prospects for the fall campaign. ~.
Few of the reputable Democrats of Hawaii
will run for office on such platform; fewer
will be elected .
In the main, the provisions are good provi-
sions-but the exceptions are so very bad that
the whole platform is not only weak in "vote-
getting power but provocative of endless party
fights, factionalism, bitterness division
The platform contains several good planks,
most of which have already been covered in the
Republican and Progressive platforms. The
proposal for 'Hfree port" is not a novel sugges-
ton, but il is new as political issue and has
several praseworthy aspects. Such planks as
those on education, harbor improvements, citi-
zen labor, demonstrating, extension of county
government, workmen's compensation, state
hood and amendment of the primary law are
well in place in the platform. They are issues
generally recognized as issues that all parties
should indorse, though there may be minor diff
ferpnees in detail.
The main part Of the platform is made up of
such planks as these, to which no serious OBJ
lection would he made by any voter, Republic
can, Democratic or Bull Moose.
The two very bad points in this platform are
its fiabby apologize and yiciousy misleading
plank on the tariff, and its no less vicious at
tack on Governor Pinkham
The first plank is political fraud, the second
Is political blunder.
The tariff plank says:
"The Demo ratio party in an almost incredibly
short time ms made good its promises and pledges
IN fhQ Aua ronn mann IN 0fri his naffon
new tariff law This tariff law touches the entire
commercial life Of the nation. and we believe that
as patriotic ctizens ought to meet the con-
ditions In a fair shirt without premature and I'M
just criticism"
We're ii not for the industrial disaster threat
ening Hawaii because of this very tariff law
such plank would cause universal smile of
ridicnle to spread from Hawaii to Niihau.
"AIeet the new conditions in fair spirit
without premature and unjust criticism Is
that the only thing the Democratic party dares
to say 10 the voters of Hawaii?
What sort Of an answer is that for the bust
ness depression the curtailment of labor on the
plantations, the reduction OF forces in pract-
cally every business house aad commercial es-
tablishment, the drop of many millions in tax
valuations the sudden decrease in territorial
and county reyenuess
What sort of an argument is that for tariff
that is beneftting not the sugar growers of Ha-
waii or Louisiana but the reiners, the beet
sugar companies of Europe and the cheap-labor
exploiters Of the Java cane-felds.
is that the sort of stuff that L. L. McCand
less intends to purvey to the voters from the
stump
1t will be even more fatal to his chances than
his notorious stand on immigration four years
aeo-fhe stand that alienated some of the most
Influential Democrats in the territory and sent
him down to defeat.
The tariff plank in the Democratic platform
IS worse than straddle-it is a sneak to the
rear, tail-between-the-le fashion. 1t is fraud
because it aims to misrepresent the attitude of
Hawaii ON the tariff as affecting sugar
The plank condemning Governor Pinkham's
administration is a political blunder so gro
tesque that it is funny The blunder is appar-
emit from the delight with which Republicans
are today hailing the spectacle of Democratic
platform in one breath lauding Wilson to the
skies for sswise and progressive leadership. and
in another breath denouncing as thoroughly
nndelnocratic" the administration of Wilson's
appointee.
That plank alone will ALLEVIATE enough Demo-
Gratis of caliber and standing 10 defeat many a
Democratic nominee.
From a Republican standpoint, the Demo
cratic platform is ''bnlly." 1t will make many
hundreds of Republican votes in November. 1t
GROWING Use n PARCEL pms