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

Predictions in Washington Indicate the reappoint-
ment Of Governor Pinkham, but no appointment Is
likely to be made for some time, SAYS the star'Bui'
Ietns correspondent at the national capitol
Very likely nothing will I've done until some or
the Democratic congressman who have been in Ha'
wall recently return to Washington and give their
view Of the glIbprnatoral situation. That. how
ever is bv no means certain injure the governor
chances for reappOintment and may improve them.
For one thing the visiting Democrats had chance
TO look over the local field and how impoverlsh'
ed il is when it comes furnishing suitable guber-
Material timber.
That there are flaws in the Pnkham administra-
ton not even the warmest friends Of Mr. Plnkham
would deny. The lack Of cooperation between the
governor and the food commission he himself ap-
pOinted-a situation thrown strongly into the lime
light by the governors statements yesterday-ls
fairly typical instance of administrative friction.
Possibly the most serious complaint, and the best
justified has been that the territorial administra
ton is sometimes almost intolerably slow in getting
through urgent public business The governor has
found it necessary to take into his own hands a
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 on
the part of Hawaii to any of the avowed candi'
dates TO REPLACE Mr. Pnkham successful in their
endeavors? Hardly.
The McCandless henchmen made a "drive" for
the goyernorship 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 said
after getting back from that memorable political
campaign on Hawaii The avidity and persistency
Of the McCandless "pluggers' from the time the
steamer arrived at Kailua until the party back
In Honolulu weared senator's and congressman who
hoped in fair, sunny, palmgroyed and tradewind.
laved Hawaii to find surcease from patronage poll.
tics The governor cannily said nothing whatever
about the goyernorship. Whereupon he gained
favor. good many Of the stories told against
Mr. Pinkham were proved false when the congress-
men made his personal acquaintance and journeyed
with him. gs@@7z ~ -. t-'..s~ . , -
1t may be stated as fact that the interior de.
partment is favorably disposed toward the gov
ernor's disappointment. The department has receiv
ed numerous complaints and investigated them,
with the result that the majority were found to
be either Gross exaggerations or outright fabrica
y0ns the work Of his personal political enemies
The most severe of the cases of personal attack
have in truth, helped rather than hurt him in the
eyes of Washington, for they have cemented the
conviction that an organized campaign of viifca-
ton has been conducted against him since his ap.
pointment four years ago. In. this class falls the
principal newspaper attack The department 10
disposed to believe that the governor has been the
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 Of
the gubernatorial appointment. Some are political,
some personal. Secretary Lane will weigh them
before making his recommendation to the president
and some must be weighed by the president before
the appointment is sent to the senate. 1t is posi-
bic 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
fractional differences which have never healed since
McCandless failed of appointment Most Of the
Democrats who might answer to such specifications
have refused to be considered in any degree
There is no indication that Secretary Lane has
less confidence in the governor than at any time in
the past four years, during which that confidence
has repeatedly been shown. Mr. Pinkham is still
in strategicaly favorable position and his enemies
continually defeat their own attacks by: lack Of
ordinary political intelligence.