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

One false note was struck AT the Chamber or Con
merce "Wednesday afternoon that calls for mOmen
of undivided attention from the citizens of this tow
who belieyettliey have intelligence but not 81
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
county will not support any measure in which the
do not SIZE 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 it asserted is that the hopolloi of the cleo
torate will not support any measure unless they se'
something in il for them" in the shape of work
day labor, on the roads. ..-..: ~. Il. III.
Assuming this to be true, the Chamber of Com
merce should be the last organization within th'
city to be influenced by such an argument infiuenc
ed to the extent of running TO cover and accept
ing it.
Electorates do not 90 wrong unless they are neg
lected and allowed to be msled -. +. :.-...~
Members Of the Chamber OF Commerce whatever
their record has been in the pastshOuld he the las
OF this city to lay down before threat that thu
electorate can be handled only by throwing soI
TO selfish interest and cannot be influenced by an
appeal TO intelligence and what businessmen believe
TO be the best method for securing the best results
for the rich, the poor and the average man.
Year after year we have had the wretched exhibi
tion in this city and territory of certain brands OF
politicians coming before the people and crying
down progressive. businesslike measures with the
howl "0h 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 viii test the intell
genee of the electorate that in the first place they
do not believe the statements TO be true, and even
il true they intend to go forward with the fight to
educate the electorateto 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-
sonaities and all night stump speeches that turn on
the superiority of man because he does or does not
wear his shirt outside his pants
Certain people with selfish axes to grind have
preached the doctrine in committees and confer
and out that the only way to reach the cleo
torate is to "giye 'em something through runners
and promises-all of which is pure, unauthorized
imfam 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 i'm
prove The celebrates attitude of mind and makes
the alleged intelligent ashamed of himself even
though he wins a majority of the votes.
Not in the brief history Of this territory has any
considerable body Of men conducted campaign on
educational lines, that is through carefully prepar
ed arguments that leave out personalities and lead
public attention the real fundamental issues that
are pressing every side.
Ii the electorate is now in the maudln condition
which the Star Bulletin does not admit suggest.
ed ii is because the men of this city who ought to
know better have not had courage of conviction to
fight battle 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,"
Menspf the Chamber of Commerce should be the
first to willingly and aggressivey to go to the front
to make fight with facts as the weapon and intelli,
gent presentation through carefully prepared itera
fure and speeches as the ammunition of the cam
paign.
The inspiration, the initiative, the aggressive
force and the working force for campaign of this
character should come from the Chamber of Com
merce 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 of the age to vote Our electorate is no longer
dominated by the plug hat brigade. The men in the
ranks are products of our schools. They read.
They write They can add and substract. They
have been taught to think for themselves They are
establishing families and building homes. When one
stops to study the record and the material offered,
it is question whether the electorate or the men
who assume to handle it on the old fimfam basis