Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-17
POLITICAL EDUCATION OR FLIMFLAM.

One false note was struck at the Chamber of Con
merce Wednesday afternoon that calls for momen
of undivided attention from the citizens of this tow
who believe they have intelligence but are not $
sure Of how much is possessed by the other fellow
Speakers, in the enthusiasm of advancing thei
cause remarked that the electorate of this city an
county will not support any measure in which the
do not see some immediate return for their imme
date selves. That is, the electorate will not vot
IN favor of bonds for water and sewers and parks
the item for roads is not included. The reason fO
this il asserted is that the hOpooi of the cleo
torate will not support any unless they
something in il for them" in the shape Of work
day labor, on the reads.
Assuming this TO be true the Chamber Of Com
merte should be the last organization within tTi
city to be influenced by such an argument infuenc
ed to the extent Of running to cover and accept
ing it.
Celebrates do not go wrong unless they are neg
lected and allowed to be msled
Members of the Chamber of Commerce-whateveI
their record has been in the passhould be the last
men of this city TO lay down before threat that the
electorate can be handled only by throwing SOP
TO selfish interest and cannot be influenced bv an
appeal TO intelligence and what businessmen believe
to be the best method for securing the best results
III.
Year after year we have had the wretched exhbi.
ton in this city and territory of certain brands Of
politicians coming before the people and crying
down progressive busnesslike measures with the
howl "Oh, you can't get the ignorant electorate to
accept that"
The worst of it is that men who ought to know
better have accepted this as final
Not yet has there been considerable BODY of men
come forward to answer this miserable cowardly
whine with the reply that they will test the intelli
renee Of the electorate, that in the first place they
Qo not believe the statements to be true and even
4 true they intend to go forward with the fight to
edpcate the eiectorate-to appeal to intelligence by
means of an intelligent appeal
Ever since the territory was organized political
battles have been fought on the basis of petty per-
sonalites and all night stump speeches that turn on
the superiority of man because he does or does moi
NearAh his shirt outside his pants
Certain people with selfish axes to grind have
preached the doctrine in committees and confer.
t1ces and out that the only way to reach the cleo
crate Is to give 'em something" through runners
and promises all of which is pure unadulterated
1infain and waste. Men of supposed and believed
intelligence have fallen for it and into it. The re-
suit is species Of degradation which does not inn
prove the celebrates attitude of mind and makes
the alleged intelligent man ashamed of himself even
though he wins majority of the votes.
Not In the brief history Of this territory has any
considerable body of men conducted a campaign on
sensational lines, that is, through carefully prepar
ed arguments that leave out personalities and lead
public attention to the real fundamental issues that
are pressing on every side.
II the electorate is now in the maudn condition
which the Star BuIletin does not admit-suggest
ed it is because the men of this city who ought to
now better have not had courage of conviction to
light battle on facts and principles as opposed to
the ancient and dishonorable method OF appeal to
Personalities and prejudice.
In this present juncture men of the Chamber of
Commerce should not be the first to knuckle under
to the cry you can't do it,
Men of the Chamber of Commerce should be the
rst to Willingly and aggressively to go to the front
70 make fight with facts as the weapon and inteli
gent presentation through carefully prepared tera
tue and speeches as the ammunition of the cam
paign.
The inspiration, the initiative, the aggressive
Iorce and the working force for a campaign of this
character should come from the Chamber of Com
nerce IF that organization plans to be force in
the community
speaking of the electorate it should be borne in |
mind that children born on annexation day are al
most the age to vote. Our electorate is no longer
dominated by the plug hat brigade The men in the I
ranks are products of our schools Tbar road