Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-08
Behind The "Ticket.SpIittine''

tanning that lit was simply ticketsplittng ana
nothing else that defeated Lane" He disagreed
emphaticalIy with the following editorial comment
{ which we had made the day after election
Ferns personal vote getting ability with his own
q. people and 0 few others; the drive made BY
Rose "knifing that Lane received At the hands OF
socaed Republicans were the chief factors In Lanes
defeat It is defeat to be regretted but 1t was not
due 70 the independent efficiency movement,
and amount OF distortion make look like that
S.. Fern had the benefit of solid Democratic vote
waan voters and this potential strength was turned
into actual ballots at the polls by the Democratic pre-
cinct organization and Sheriff Roses fastWorking
corps of neutenants and their fleet Of automobiles
OF course it is obvious as the writer of the letter
insists that "ticketspltting beat Lane" but the
ticketsplitting was merely the tangible result not
the cause. The ticket-splitting the demonstra'
ton on the ballot of something that happened be-
fore the voter went into the booth.
1t 10 what happened before the vote was cast that
the Star Bulletin points to the cause OF Lanes de
feat Some of the factors were these:
Failure Of the Republican organization to realize
Ferns strength and concentrate for two or three
days before election on making Lane safe.
Failure Of the Republican organization to under
stand the danger to Lane that lay in Joe Cohen's
bitterness and hostility, the apathy and dsaection
charged up to John Wise, and the other elements
that went into the open "knifng" of Lane on cleo
ton day.
Lack of organized forces on election day The
Star Bulletin knows from direct statements by Re
publican and Democratic precinct workers that the
Bourbon preparations forgetting out the vote on
election day put the g. o. P. "in the shade" The
Democrats had a splendid, rapid-fre organization
They were much better supplied with "party whips"
autos and precinct workers, and also with money.
At least there appear to have been many more cleo
tion-day paid workers boosting for the Democratic
than for the Republican ticket.
Republicans now are ruefully frank in admitting
that they thought Lane was safe and did not put the
apuneh1 into their .electionday efforts that should
have been put there Take, for instance, the eiey
enfh precinct of the fifth district. At o'clock,
when the polls opened, two big autos loaded with
voters were waiting. The moment the voting-booth
was opened, the voters crowded in. They had been
brought in Democratic machines, with shouting and
singing, and they voted the Democratic ticket The
Democrats were off to flying start and word was
sent throughout the fifth district that Honolulu was
going Democratic BY big vote. Meanwhile, al
Republican worker tells the Star Bulletin not al
Republican auto was in sight to help out Lane and
the workers were very few In that precinct little
feparation was made to carry the voters to the
polls. Asd the eleventh went for Fern by 332 to-
I91, against 20I for Lane and FOG for Fern at the
last election
The story q the day was similar in many other
precincts
What effort was there made BY the Republicans to
hold the Cohen vote for Lane? What effort was
there made to concentrate upon the followers or
other disahected Republicans?
Attention to such points is practical politics and
the Democrats played practical politics on Tuesday
Within the week before election-day, Fern shook
hands and talked with thousands Of voters between
Aloanalna and Diam0hd Head. He had the beneftI
Of Sheriff Roses weilknit personal machine, and
the drive for Rose unquestionably helped to pull
Fern along
Election aftermathE, explanations and excuses
are usually oflttle profit, except to show the cam
paign organizations where they made mistakes.
eAbisD are not interesting to the general public,
and this comment above is not given as an "alibi
II is given to emphasize plainly that Lane could
have been elected last Tuesday had more attention
been given to the details of practical politics en-
tirely legitimate attention. Republican leaders
know tkis Those " 10 were actively out in the pre-
cincts know that the yote-forefRciency argument
did not help Fern. he was helped by the factionaIl
bitterness and the mistakes on the other side--a
situation Of which be and the Democratic organiza
ton took quick advantage
The writer Of the letter referred to above said
also:
9The Star Bulletins tvote.forenReiency' propa,
oanda was addressed to the white voters primarily
those of the fourth district
This is, we are sure our correspondent will admit
mon q little reflection, mistaken Interpretation
Of our attitude The Star Bulletin addressed its |
vote foreRciency arguments to every voter on the
island white and otherwise fifth district M we'll