The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-02-27
RODERICK .. MArHEsOr. EDITOR
The Charter Convention,

The results Of the charter convention were not such
TO commend themselves to those who have the best
interests Of the city and county at heart who had
hoped that some progressive step might be taken. Per-
haps no better illustration has been afforded in
Hawaii of the possibilities and dangers of machine
politics, given the opportunity. II seemed plain
throughout that group of political leaders planned
TO capture the convention and put through charter
designed TO serve the purposes of machine politicians
rather than those Of the COMMUNICATIONS Report
Of the Joint committee of the Chamber Of Commerce.
7 Civic Federation, Commercial Club, Ad Club and
Rotary Club. III
This quotation is a fair sample Of the argli-
nnent that is being made against the adoption
for Honolulu, of what Is much the best proposal
Tor a city government that has yet come within
the range Of the possible
One of those who signed the report from which
this is quoted was not in Honolulu when the char
ter convention was formed and consequently may
be excused for what he says about it. The others
were. '"arg& ~ .3 ....
They know, il they paid attention to what was
going on prior to the nomination of the delegates
TO this convention, that both The Advertiser and
the Star Bulletin urged the business men of the
city to come out as candidates and later urged the
business men to vote for the best candidates in
the field. They know, If they really do know what
they are now talking about. that the Municipal
Research Club canvassed the city for candidates,
failing to secure all the men thought desirable and
failing then to put into nomination some of the
men who did agree to run. .#a
The makeup of the convention not due, as
stated, to the plan of group of political leaders
to capture the convention, but was due directly
and solely to the absolute indifference of the So
called best people of the city. They turned down
the opportunity to become portion of the con-
yention and were too Indifferent to the welfare of
the city to even help choose between the candi-
dates offered. 1t is cheap excuse to come for
ward now and attempt to shift the responsibility
from their own shoulders .&r.
The Advertiser is not in favor OF the result of
the work of the charter convention being accepted
hous bolus by the legislature but is very decided
ly in favor of the principle of that charter being
accepted and OF its main points being incorporated
into whatever bill be passed 4. . i
The sneers of the critics may2very well be ig-
nored. They are, as reading Of their report ind-
Gates, founded upon two things tonly-ignorance
OF or Indifference to real conditions and feeling
Of superiority to the ordinary individual NJ
But the fact that the proposed charter if adopted
will give Honolulu small number of elected Off
Gals each independent, responsible and holding
office only so long he makes good, should COM
mend it to the thinking observing, practical voters,
men who believe in grasping the opportunity to
make whatever improvement be possible when it
be possible. ,a..s 'E..''" g." 49,. .:..
Crying for the moon will get us no where.