Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-06
THE STATUS OF THE GOVERNOR

THE STATUS OF THE GOVERNOR.
Editor Honolulu Star.BullstIn,
Sir: In an editorial in the Star
Bulletin Of the 4th inst, under the
caption OF Proving Their Democracy"
you assert that the governor Of Ha-
vail is ''the direct representative in
the territory, of President Wilson"
and as you, as we'll as others, have
repeatedly made this statement, 1t &C.
ours TO ire that If you can do 50
without betraying the confidence re-
posed in you by the president, you
ought TO be willing to make more
informing statement as to the Gre
6entials held by the governor. We
have no viceroys, nor pro consuls IN
der our system of government, and
except in rare instances (only three>
In our foreign relations, notably in
the case OF the Blount Mission to Ha-
wall. and the Lund Mission to Mex
iso, has it ever been pretended that
the president had personal repre-
sentative" Even in the diplomatic
service, the employment of such
agencies by the president has been
challenged by many great eonssi.a.
tional lawyers, but the power Of the
president to avail himself of them,
now seems to be regarded as a neces-
sary part Of the proper exercise o.
the diplomatic power entrusted to him
by the constitution. r.. "
The memory of our monarchica
days OF git, lace and tinsei, yet sur
wives, and there are many people in
Hawaii who are awed by the pomp
and circumstance affected by our pet
ty officials. Ever since the annexa
ton of Hawaii to the United States a
ring of politicians. seeking to use tie
executive power to promote their per-
sonal ends, have industriously tried
to lead. the people of this community
to believe that the governor of the
territory is spokesman of the presi-
cent, and that no matter what the
former may do, any criticism Of him.
however well founded, is disrespect.
full to the president and reasonable
violation of our obligation to assist
him in carrying out his policies.
The purpose of this IS manifest: 1t
is plainly designed to fpreyent any
criticism of the governor and to ere.
ate the impression that any complaint
made against him will be coldly re.
ceived, if not ignored, by the authori-
ties at Washington.
The political history of this terri
tory, since annexation. positively ne.
gatives the contention that the gov
ernor is. in any sense, "the personal
representative of the president" or
that his recolnme tidatidns in regard
to territorial matters will be treated
as conclusive. b @
Beginning with Dole, our first gov
ernor, it is easy to recall the fact
that he was not consulted with refer
ence to federal appointments In the
territory, or that If he was consulted.
his preferences we're ignored; for in
most, If not all instances, bJring
that OF collector of customs, the ap-
pointees. were known to be either pc
dents, with whom he had no acquaint-
ance. After Governor Dole's retire
ment, we had a perfervid, picturesque
gentleman or horseback, of agreeable
personality, too. while afoot; but In
spite of the potent influence which
he was supposed to exercise as the
personal representative of the presi
dent" the solid-fronted bar secured
the reappointment of Judge Robinson
ever his protest.
1t seems but yesterday that Cover.
nor Frear failed to secure the ap-
continent of Judge Lindsay to the
federal bench and to prevent the ap.
pointment of Judge DeBolt to the SUI
preme bench. In both instances, the
bar was opposed to the governor. and
the bar won out. ~. = -
/ have lived in other territories, and
in none of them have / ever heard it
claimed that the governor was. in any
sense, the personal representative of
the president" The concern of such
an officer, elsewhere, seems to be tc
observe his oath that "the laws be
faithfully executed and avoid med,
ding in political matters, generally.
l suppose that the recommendation
Of candidate for appointment at the
hands of the president. by the COVER
Ior of Hawaii, would have the same
weight which might be accorded to
the opinion of any other worthy gen
.leman. but it won't have much more
than that, nor will it count for any.
thing where the community present.
tolerably solid front. as it does in
the case of Judge Wilder, against the
governors nomination" of him ito
the supreme bench.
The truth about the whole business