Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-05
aREFoRM" AND THE PRIMARY LAW

In answer to a letter from A. F. Judd maxim
certain suggestions for the broadening of munici
pal powers, Supervisor Francis NJ. Hatch wrote:
hope you will include in your schedule of
forms the repeal of the primary election law law
which, II seems TO me, was devised to meet faneled
evils that have q existed, and not likely TO de-
velop in this community
The Star Bulletin cannot agree with Supervisor
Hatch that Hawaii should discard an election Law
which has yet been given fair test by time anC
experience .-...* -. .
In private conversation Supervisor Hatch has ex
pressed his appreciation of the character of his col
leagues OF the board and voiced the opinion thai
they measure up in all around usefulness to thu
makeup of nysprevious board. The present boarc
vas elected under the direct primary law.
The present delegate TO Congress was elected IN
defthe primary law and his victory under this law
was not essentially different in character from pre-
yious victories under the old system of nominal
ing conventions. e... -. .'.- tv+ .". ~~.-. +
These two instances are cited to show that the
direct primary has not overturned elections IN Ha
waii, revolutionized methods, or changed the gen
eral tenor of results in such way that it can bt
suggested that it defeats the will of thee peO
pie. Many more instances might be cited. --ss
III Mr.. Hatch believes that the primary law de
tiers many prominent citizens from entering the
political race-a point sometimes made-the an
swer may be found in the records of the last cam
pagn as well as in the records of the campaign just
begun. Fully as many wellknown businessmen en-
tered for various offices in 1914 had entered in
previous election years. This fall the businessmen
are beginning to come out as candidates at a rate
which shows that they not afraid to trust their
fortunes in the political arena the plane as
any other man, and without the manipulations
which Always attended nominating conventions.
II Mr. Hatch believes that the "double cam
paign"f objection to the primary law holds good,
the Star Bulletin agrees with him. But this OBJ
lection is already being overcome. The primary
campaigns of the future will be shorter than that Of
1914, less exhausting to strength less costly TO
pocketbook.
This AZ the-surt f-objection which time and ex.
perience with the primary law will remove The
most enthusiastic supporter of primary nominal
tions would not argue that this political method is
cureal for political evils or that it should work
at the first or second election under it's
provisions.
It is much like the frontage-tax law or like any
law which makes radical changes in customary
procedure of large bodies of citizens. Time is
for adaptation both of the law itself and
Of those who must work with it, Inevitably there
will be knotty questions to be solved and disadyan
faqes to be overcome. but they can be solved and
overcome through the exercise of patience, good
public spirit and what might be called civic intel
renee, and Supervisor Hatch is the very sort of
man who can do great deal toward such solu-
tons.
The Star Bulletin is not apologizing for the d
rect primary law. No apology for it is needed.
This paper believes that its first trial it demon
strated its usefulness. For thing, it has begun
to bring home to the voters in general the unmis
taxable fact that each of them must do his share
toward nominating good men for public office
Hawaii cannot leave its nominations to few in
fluentiai men who control the conventions. The
is now done by individual voters, and
the comfortable stay-at-home citizen who doesn't
want to mix in politics. finds that if there are
many like him the professional politicians simply
~carry home the bacon" 1t may take one election
or two or five to drive in the fact that the direct
primary is the average mans opportunity to ex-
press himself on political issues, but when it is
driven in we shall have an active and highlyinteli
gent electorate with allaround education on local
political issues-and nothing is more needed than
education on these issues.
The primary law is here to stay until some i'm
upon it is offered 1t will be modified,
it's inequalities smoothed out but the principle is
sound and experience will prove it's value.
In its anxiety to make point for the safety of