Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-09
congressman

congressman "a :
Even with no contest, such a referendum is mani.
testify so unwiedy as to be impracticable 1t could
not be taken in the time specified without depriyng
hundreds Of thousands of the right of vote for in
many isolated sections of the country it would be
impossible for the ballots to be received distributed,
used. collected and forwarded to the census bureau
in the time specified The plan of counting seven
teen million ballots would swamp the census bureau,
even if the postal facilities able TO handle the
earlier distribution and. collection.
4 full fair referendum through postal offices
would require at least two months. Moreover there
would be political and partisan fights; there would
Nbe contests the petitions and over the ballots.
Congress would be involved in maze of red tape
through weeks when the nation with whom dipO-
matte relations were severed was gaining the i'm.
mense advantage of striking fast and hard.
The referendum plan would be more practicable
were the opposing nation operating on the same
method. Itwenld then resolve itself into arace to
which nation gould first count the ballotsand 90
ahead with military operations. -
Until such time as there is League of Nations
and the nations are bound TO observe and respect
the same procedure before going to the proposal
of war referendum in the United States is idle
dream. Like many other roseate dreams of Utopian
government it fades before the grim realities of the
world today
In the present crisis, the United States cannot in
national safety undertake referendum. 1t would
be Just as wise for Sheriff Rose to call for vote in
Honolulu before breaking up dangerous street riot
Ii would be just as wise for Fire Chief Thurston to
ask for a referendum before turning out the fire de,
partment to nip an incipient conhgration.
s ~Nhile clerks and judges were distributing count
ing and inspecting ballots the riot would be destroy
ing life and property the fire would be sweeping
tho city. 49,
While the nation was taking a ballot on the ques-
tion of war, another nation would be sinking our
ships numbering our citizens, fomenting plots and
strife in our own country.
The United States faces stern facts. We have
elected president and Congress, and reelected a
president because nearer than any other man nom
mated for the Office he represented the sentiment of
Americans. He was reelected with every American
realizing that before his term of Office was over We
might be at war with Germany. BY their ballots
the American people have placed in his hands and
the hands of Congress the power to guide our ma.
tional acts. Whatyer be the issue, it is by the will
of the people that our president and our Congress
now act.
No democracy can endure that is not Injured to
discipline and resolved in unity. No democracy can
endure without leaders, and without standing by its
Eleaders And no impracticable scheme of referen
dun at this particular stage Of the wordcatastrophe
could make war BY the United States one whit more
democratic than the only war upon which we may
cnlbark-a war for American and neutral rights
the war of democracy against military autocracy.