The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-04-11
Mr. Brown Is ''Riled"
(From Pacific Commercial Adver-
tiser.)

Editor Advertiser:
Your paper has commented upon
statements made in the Maui News
of last weeks issue in respect to my
attitude and vote record on the ques-
ton of woman suffrage. You quote
the island paper that the reason for
my political state of mind was and is
h was offered a henchman's job of
some kind in Honolulu as a price for
his vote against the women" l re-
frain from calling the writer of the
article a liar, but he is so close that
that the differencet cdnDo well be as
certained. My vote on this question
and on every other that has come be-
=. fore me rs a member of the House of
representatives for the last three
years has been dictated by my con-
science alone. l have not been offer
ed any job, political or otherwise in
Honolulu nor do l care to work for
any one, but will go into business of
my own and that | have made known
to the people of Maui previous to my
departure for Honolulu.
The question of suffrage was not a
factor in the last campaign and, l
believe, that it has been made one
during this term by a small, but noisy
minority of she men and he women.
The precincts throughout the Terri
tory ent delegates to the convention
absolutely uninstructed for or against
suffrage. The plank was slipped in
by a few boss carpenters while some
of the ordinary workmen were not
looking and like most tricks of the
kind, failed. Today on Maui and
throughout the group, l firmly be-
lieve that there is not a sincere, real
sentiment either among the present
voters or he mass of sensible home
keeping women for the extension of
the franchise, and that, until legisla-
tors are directly instructed by their
constituents, the immediate granting
of votes to women would be an I'M
warranted exercise of the legislators
power.
AS to the mention of my political
grave being dug, it is pertinent and
proper at this time to inquire who
is the grave digger? We judge the
future by the past and in the most
recent past, the last election, / re-
ceived the highest vote on the island
of Maui and l did not campaign with
the idea or mention of supporting a
measure giving votes to women, and
l firmly believe that no representa-
tive or senator from any section of
this Territory had an idea of so do
ing excepting, of course, a few noisy
and insincere Legislators who thought
they could slip over an uncalled for
measure and which had not been de-
manded by the present holders of
the voting franchise.
AS to whether l fill the ALREADY
made grave" the future will show. In
oil npn1ohi1i+y- &c I CO 1nniha fu-n
years hence. | may be a member of
either House and shall strictly carry
out any election promises l make
my conduct and vote at this session
not being based upon any election
promises so far as suffrage is concern
ed.
The article mentions my associa-
ton with what is called a gang of
Oahu politicians" The epithet of
gang" is often used by the opposi-
ton who have lost out in frantic en-
deavors to do the uncalled for. OF
course, if l cared to be rude, and
which l do not, l could speak of the
other side as a gang, and its individ-
ual members as gangsters. These
words merely are those which rude,
disappointed people make use of.
Representative Joseph can well
take care of himself and his vote on
this measure and others, no doubt,
will receive the approval of the con-
stituents who have, time and again,
returned Levi to the House of Rep
resentatives, and if he so decided to
again run for the legislature, l am not
afraid to say he will be elected.
AS to the Plebiscite measure, l am
and always have been in favor of
such a fair measure being submitted
to the present voters. Their mandate
should and must be the guide of their
representatives. Until the men of
this Territory indicate clearly and
emphatically that they desire to share
voting privileges with females, l
shall continue my course of action
unswayed and unterrified by either
the Maui News, your widely e pa
per or other things of similar nature.
| do not regret what | have done
or what l have said in this legisla-
ture or in the previous one. Maui
certainly needs and needs badly, in
dependent representatives.
Musing over and watching the daily
actions of some of my colleagues, l
have rudely, perhaps, thought of the
actions of the toy called the jumping
jack. A wind mill is, comparatively,
IA stationary object when compared
with the variation of the voting move
ment of some honorable members of
their Legislature. The reasons that
actuate their changing and rechang-
ing that portion of their anatomy call
ed their mind, would be an interest
ing study, and might be a reason for
more than raising the eyebrows.
Very respectfully,
mo BROWN .JR