Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-12
About the GOvernOrShip

Predictions in Washington indicate the reappolnt
ment of Governor Pnkham, but no appointment !
likely to be made for some time says the Star-bui
letins correspondent at the national capitol
Very likely nothing will he done until some o
the Democratic congressman who have been IN ha
wall recently return to Washington and give thel
view of the gubernatOrial situation. That no"
ever is bv no means certain to injlre the governor
chances for reappontment and may improve them
For one thing the visiting Democrats had chance
to look over the local field and see how impoverlsh
ed it is when it comes to furnishing suitable guber
Material timber.
That there are flaws in the Pinkham administra
ton not even the warmest friends of Mr.. Pinkhan
would deny. The lack of cooperation between thu
governor and the food commission he himself ap
pointed-a situation thrown strong y into the lime
light bv the governors statements yesterday-is
fairly typical instance of administrative friction
Possibly the most serious complaint, and the bes
justified has been that the territorial administra
ton is sometimes almost ntoerably slow in getting
through urgent public business. The governor has
found it necessary to take into his own hands &
multitude of details which ought to be performed
promptly efficiently and in tune with the governors
policies by his subordinates.
1t is all very well to criticize the governor, but
when the question of successor arises the critics
are forced to admit, if they frank that at this
point they are "stumped.' Is there any desire or
the part of Hawaii to any of the avowed candi
dates to replace Mr.. Pinkham successful in theil
endeayors? Hardly.
The McCandess henchmen> made "drive" fol
the gorernorship during the recent congressional
visit and the drive was good deal less successful
than that of the German crown prince at Verdun
They were not only stopped short, but they lost
ground, to judge by what the congressman sale
after getting back from that memorable politica
campaign on Hawaii. The ayidity and persistenc!
of the McCandless s'plqggers' from the time the
steamer arrived at Kailua until the party bach
In Honolulu wearied senators and congressman who
hoped in fair, sunny, palm-groved and tradewind
laved Hawaii to find surcease from patronage poll
-tics. The governor cannily said nothing whatever
about the goyernorship.< Whereupon he gained
favor. A good many of the stories told agains
Mr. Pinkham were proved false when the congress
men made his personal acquaintance and journeyet
with him. -.
It may be stated as a fact that the interior de
partment is fayorably disposed toward the gov
ernor's reappointment. The department has receiv
ed numerous complaints and investigated them
with the result that the majority were found tt
be either gross exaggerations or outright fabrica
tions the work of his personal political enemies
The most severe of the cases of personal attach
have, in truth, helped rather than hurt him in thu
eyes of Washington, for they have cemented TIT
conviction that an organized campaign of yilifca
ton has been conducted against him since his ap
pointment four years ago. In this class falls thu
principal newspaper attack. The department i,
disposed to believe that the governor has been tn,
victim of newspaper criticism animated more by
personal spite than by sincere desire to put forward
constructive suggestion.
A great many factors enter into the question o.
the gubernatorial appointment. Some are political
some personal. Secretary Lane will weigh then
before making his recommendation to the president
and some must be weighed by the president befor,
the appointment is sent to the senate. It is posi-
BILE that the department will have before it the name
of Democrat here who will satisfy the require
ments and who will be able to harmonic the bitter
factiona differences which have never healed since
McCandless failed OF appointment. Most of thu
Democrats who might answer to such specification.
have refused to be considered in any degree.
There is no indication that Secretary Lane hal
less confidence in the governor than at any time II
the past four years, during which that confidence
has repeatedly beep shown. Mr.. Pinkham is still
In strategcally favorable position and his enemie.
continually defeat their own attacks by lack Of
ordinary political intelligence.