Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-06

l
political situation as shed by George
w. Perkins in the course of his cor
respondence as chairman Of the Pro-
gressive executive committee. is af-
forded through letter from Mr.. Per
kins to A. l. c. Atkinson, national
committeeman for Hawaii.
Mr. Perkins also sends a coOy CT a
letter purporting to set forth the attl-
tude CT Charles S. Whitman.
The two letters are as follows:
New York. July II, 1914.
My dear Mr.. Atkinson:
The developments here this week
have been very interesting. Repre-
sentatives of the party-State Chair
men and National Committeeman
from several OF the Southern states
have been here, and they all report
that the same feeling that has been
evidenced in Louisiana is in existence
in greater or lesser uegree through
out the South. This seems particular
ly so in Georgia, Alabama and Flor
ida Our talks of this week from the
people from these staLes show that
the signs are unmiStakable, that the
belief in and royalty to, the Democ.
ratio party in the southern states is
at a low ebb. Recent messages from
Mr.. Parker of New Orleans and others
show the greatest possible confidence
in our strength in louisiana, and that
we are sure OF securing some. Cong
ressmen there this fall, as anything
can be in politics. 49,. r..
Here in New York the important and
exceedingly complicated situation is
making progress, and, as | have writ.
ten you before, / am confident that We
will work it out satisfactorily when
we have finished. But it is not an
easy matter and could not be disposed
OF as promptly as many of our friends
might have wished -. .-...
You doubtless have read in the news.
papers of the complications over Mr..
Whitman. Boiled down to few words
the situation is that Mr. Whitman,
through his representative, Mr.. Duell,
has tried in every possible way to get
Colonel Roosevelt at our state organi-
zation to take an interest in Mr. Whit
mans candidacy for Governor, and to
impress us all with The fact that Mr.
Whitman was Progressive; that he
voted for Roosevelt in 1912; that his
record as district attorney showed his
determination to clean the rascals out;
and, that he was against Barneseand
against Murphy. Finally these verb
al messages took the shape of a draft
OF letter, which Mr.. Duell sent to
Colonel Roosevelt to look over and
asked il Mr.. Roosevelt would be in
favor of Mr.. Whitman's candidacy, pro-
vided Mr.. Whitman would stand fer
such letter which Mr.. Duell said Mr.
Whitman was ready to do. / enclose
a copy of ehe draft of said letter. Of
course Mr. Roosevelt said it wasn't for
him to say what Mr.. Whitman should
do, but that if Mr.. Whitman believed
in the sentiments expressed in the
letter it was his duty to frankly say
SO to the public without regard to
what Mr.. Roosevelt thought. The let
ter was not forthcoming, but in some
way information as to the proposition
leaked out and Colonel Roosevelt, of
course. had to make a public state
ment about the letter, which pretty
severely arraigned Mr. Whitman. Mr..
Whitman has made weak reply to
this, and the whole affair is discredit.
ing Mr.. Whitman in the eyes of the
voters of this state.
Every indication is that Mr.. Whit.
man will De the Republican candidate
for Governor, and that he will not
break with Mr.. Barnes, which is an.
other instance of the tenacity of the
reactionary element in the Republi.
can party to stick to their original
views and determinations.
Mr.. Roosevelt is stnl being crowd
ed here by people in this state to
run for Governor, the attempt being
made to convince him that his duty
as a citizen in this state at this time
is to make the race and this be-
cause of the fact that the sentiment
is overwhelming that both the Barnes
and Murphy machines have got to be
put out of business here this fall. The
people have gathered great deal of
confidence that this can be done
through our victory in this state last
fall in defeating Tammany Hall.
1t is generally known that
our action last fall-and our action
alone-brought about the nomination
of Mr.. Mitchell and his subsequent cleo
ton and they naturally turn to our
leader as the man to solve the ques-
ton in this state this year, as it was
solved in the city last year. Mr..
Roosevelt agreed to listen to all the.
people of the state had to say on the
subject, and, of course, to give the
best that is in him in an effort to
reach a proper solution of the problem.
II Is not at all question with him
whether or not he could be elected,
1t is purely a question of whether his
duty lies in running for Governor in
his own state to clean up the scand.
alous situation, or to save his strength
and abilities for the national Prog.
ressiVe campaign throughout the coun:
try.
You know of course how | have