The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-08-09
Wilder and Cattle
Are Barred From
Ruaning For Office
As Officials Of Red Cross Political
Activities Are Frowned Upon
and Neither will Be Candidate
This Year

Gerrit p. Wilder, member of the
house Of representatives, will not be a
candidate for reelection this fall, owing
to strict regulations Of the American
Red Cross Society being opposed to Of
fcials Of the society indulging in poIi.
tics.
Mr., Wilder made this announcement
yesterday, saying that when he under
took commission a. associate field
director Of the Red Cross Society he
was aware that by doing 30 he would
have to eliminate all participation in
politics. lie said that he would remain
on duty with the Rcd Cross, and by
doing so could not be considered as an
active factor in the political situation
this year.
A. J.. Castle, secretary of the Hawaii.
an Chapter Of the Red Cross Society,
was expected to be in the race for re
election to the senate, but being alb
sent in Washington, there was no way
yesterday of ascertaining definitely
whether he would be n candidate or
not. Friends of Mr.. Castle say that he
Is with the Red Cross to stay until the
war is over, in which event he will
automatically cease to be a candidate.
Politics Barred
The headquarters of the Atlantic
Division of the Red Cross Society on
July % announced that "to remain an
officer of the Red Cross no one will be
permitted to run for public office or 10
be active in the interests of any candi-
date"
The announcement was based on q
ruling by the War Council of the Red
Cross. 1t pointed out that the Red
Gross must be maintained as a strictly
nOn-partisan, non political organization.
"The reasons for this" the Atlantic
official said, "are so obvious that they
need no elaboration.
There are so many men of prom
inenee engaged in Red Cross work that
1t is not at all unlikely that many Of
them will be candidates for office. No
matter how sincerely any Red Cross
workers may strive to keep separate
his Red Cross work from any political
ambitions he may, and possibly will,
be quite unable to prevent his friends
from using his connection with the
Red Cross to gain favor with the
voters.
Wound Endanger Work
"While such action cannot be con-
tTolled, all candidates for Office who
are at heart sincere well wishers for
the Red Cross should realize that
they must do all in their power TO
prevent the public from gaining an
impression that political preferment
can or should directly or indirectly be
affected by Red Cross work either ut
home or abroad. The text of Red
Cross service is stamped by the ap.
provaI of the American people, regard
less of politics, race or religion. No
taint Of selfishness or self-seeking can
be allowed to creep into the work, en-.
dRngering and even, perhaps, destroy
ing its great accomplishment.
,oAecordingly, the Red Cross directs
either in chapters or division head.
quarters, who are in any position of
executive authority, and who at the
same time contemplate candidacy for
public office, either to resign in their
official capacity from the Red Cross
or refrain from such candidacy"
George h. Carter, president of the
Hawaiian Chapter, who is now in
Washington, sent notification to the
local chapter and to friends concerning
the future actions of Red Cross Of,
fici cials.