Honolulu star-bulletin., 1916-01-18
&. 0. P. MAY NOT
GIVE HAWAII SIX
VOTESNEXT JUNE
CONTINUED from page one)

vote only to give the right to vote
for presidential candidates and plat
form to the two delegates, putting Ha
wall on an equal footing with Alaska
and the District of Colum bia .:.... -
When the new apportionment was
made and ratified by the Republicans
of the several states it was thought
that the elimination of Hawaiis vot
| ing rights in the Republican national
conventions was an error. This view
generally accented. is not correct ac.
cording to Boss" Barnes of New
York. Discussing the question Of Ha.
wallis elimination the other day he de-
clared that an injustice had been done
Hawaii Republicans, but at the time
it was necessary to appease the de-
mands of the progressiVes.
The question of reducing Southern
representation, that became acute az
result Of the Chicago convention of
1912, came up year ago. The "regu-
lars tried to reach some middle
ground for a reduction in their con.
test with the progressive element
When it came to the question of ter.
ritorial representation, said Commit
teeman Barnes, the Roosevelt, or pro-
gressiye, element, representa- by for.
mer Governor Hadley of Missouri, de-
manded' that the Hawaiian delegates
be reduced from six to two and that
these two delegates be placed on the
same basis as the delegates from the
Philippines and Porto Rico, that is.
that they be deprived of the right to
vote. ~.
Some inside History. -.
Committeeman Barnes said that the
former Missouri governor insisted on
the Hawaiian matter and as it was
one OF the last points in issue the reg
ulars on the national committee
agreed. Now the reason why the Pro-
gressiye element was SO bitter against
the further right of the Hawaiian dele
gates to vote was given as follows
When the roll was being called for
votes on Taft and Roosevelt in the
Chicago convention for the presiden-
tial nomination, it was Hawaii's six
votes that put Taft over. The Pro-
gressiye element, those that remained
in the party and did not follow Roose-
Velt into Bull Moosery, remembered
this and wanted to hit Hawaii. They
got their chance and made good their
desire. 1t was not the fact that Taft
could have lost the six Hawaiian votes
sore but that it was the casting of the
six votes that made Taft an actual
winner in the totaling up of the votes.
Not Same Backing Today.
1t is evident that the fight that Had
ley made Q year ago has not the back
ing of the Progressive element today.
There was not stronger champion
for the Hawaiian cause on the side of
Committeeman Rice than Senator
Cummins. Senator Sherman of Illi.
nois, who also stands well with the
Progressive element, favors the right.
ing of what Is called the wrong to
Hawaii Republicans. ....".. -. -.
The national committee at its re-
cent session had not the power to
pass upon the Hawaiian case. The
committee a year ago adopted the re.
duction of the Southern representa-.
tion proposition. This action of the
committee has been ratified by the
various Republican organizations OF
the different states. The. national
committee, however, will use its in
flaence with the coming convention,
which has the sole power of granting
the vote to Hawaii. There is no
movement on foot, and there is no
chance that one will be launched to
give the vote to the delegates from
Porto Rico and the Philippines. Such
a movement would be a failure, as
there is no disposition anywhere in
Republican circles to grant to either,
at this time, voice in the Republican
pow wow . #..~.:.. ..... =. + ~.
The backing of the national COM
mittee will mean much for Hawaii. In
fact it is these same committeeman
who can right the Hawaiian case.
They will all be in Chicago in June
in full authority and each committee.
man will be a power in his state dele.
CATION. In a case of this kind it is
the general rule for the delegates to
take their tips and vote on cases Of
this kind as the national committee
man or boss" from their state de-
crees. HI. ......... -.
Al fok -