Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-04-20
oUTRUNNING THE PEOPLE.

u "A touch of mpatlence, even OF irritation, Il
occasionally noticed in the speeches and writ
ings of men in Honolulu who honestly anC
earnestly hope and work for political progress
They appear to believe that the electorate a.
large shonId follow Immediately in every
'Ology and ism to which their ewn study has
led them. And when the electorate goes halt
ingly, with an occasional period of marking
time, they express despair of the future.
Deliberate motion is not popularity of Ea-
waits electorate That state Of, the Union
often called the model of progressive democracy
Wisconsin-4hasz just been Judged and found
much as IS the American electorate everywhere
much as is Hawaii's Notwithstanding to
be hauled up by the bootstraps.
Frederick NJ. Davenport, notcd economist,
Student practical politician, candidate for gov
ernor of New York, has been making a swing
fhrongh the west ION the trail of progress and
reaction" His first article in the current num-
Der Of The Outlook deals with. Wisconsin. He
finds there Republican governor elected with
rather reactionary tendencies. He finds that
the brilliant group of young men politically
created by the energy and ability. of La Toilette
had outrun their state in social progress. Laws
regulating nearly everything in old Wisconsin
filed the statute books. The administrative
organization had not been developed inseffi-
ciency WITH corresponding speed. And at. the
Hfst hint of over-expense of public funds, the
Conservative corporation interests fought and
kefeated the brilliant ,progressives
From his survey Davenport draws conclus-
ions in part as follows: sa-,.I.,s.
~ The
capitol forgot In considerable measure what la
Toilette remembered, that you must talk II out with
the WISCONSIN electorate at every step OF the ad-
vance. The leaders were Juggling away too far
ahead q the procession OF boots on the. upward
%ssonsl es es IN aaosT ss'On
Progress In Wisconsin has neglected the founda-
tons There e evidently such thing as becoming
not only from the TOP doWnwafd bat from the bot
tom upVefdsr cIearbt We, must not move forward
1rninst reaction II appears be necessary TO work
with the policies Of democracy faster than We can
develop sound administrative talent to carry out
wise leaders win In the most painstaking fashion
make every step Of the way plain to the people;
Is digest progress in chunks And the pocket nerve
Of the American electorate Is touched more acntey
~ revealed neniciency and waste than BY any
Davenport also finds that while the Wiscon-
sin state governments and state institutions are
Ieinarkabiy strong, capable and generally well
ADMINISTERED, the iocai governments the,
towns and villages ARE often inefficient,
16stefrl. backward -
Al good deal Of his article sounds as il it had
been writtensfo Hawaii. He comments:
The reaction in Wisconsin indicates that
sensible reformers and all wise political leaders
must bear in mind that perfected machinery is
not enough to Insure freedom and progress.
Our politics will neyer be theoretically or prac-
iically on a sound basis until we pay more at
fention than reformers do now to the actual
human nature of the electorate as whole, its
habits, its predispositions, its prejudices, as,
we'll as its high mental and moral qualities.
The boss is far better political psychologist
than most reformers He understands people !"
That IS true of the electorate in Hawaii as
"a Wisconsin, The Star Bulletin has long con-
Iended that Hawaii's electorate is responsive
il the issues are discussed clearly and without,
deceit in the campaigns The electorate here
may be more easily led by appeal to.preiudicei
than in Wisconsin, but the remedy for that is
Education and public discussion of the real
ISSUES and more education and more public
disellssion.
.--