The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-07-21
PARTISAN

In the Republican platform which was adopted in Honolulu
Tuesday night there is a plank favoring amendments to the primary
election laws which is of vital Importance to party organizations and
to the political system under which the government OF the United
States has been maintained and has progressed from its early days
until recent times. The plank was not adopted without strong op-
position and then by a close vote but it is a proposal which must
have the unqualified endorsement of every man who believes that
political organizations are essential to the outlining and carrying out
of governmental and legislative policies and to the selection for office
of men who are pledged to the support of the policies advocated by
IN Pollcal party CHOSEN by the people TO handle ITS a1alrS'
Wherever the 'non-parhsan primary has been introduced in
form like or similar to that which has prevailed and is still in opera
ton in Hawaii, ii S a good deal of a farce for it permits members
u NJ party ana persons VINO are not members OF any party to dlctate
the nominations of another party. Under the law as it stands the
nominations made are by no means a truthful expression of the
wishes of the enrolled members of the party making them. Under
such circumstances the writer has been mequvocally opposed to the
Hawaii primary law and to such systems wherever they may be
found.
Under the present law in Hawaii a Democrat can go to the polls
and vote for some members Of his own party and some of the party
ne opposes, can WELD an influence i'll favor of weakening nominations
of the Republican party if he desires. He expresses a choice of cam
didates to run on a platform which he does not endorse. SO a per-
son who has no party interests, who has not any voice in framing
the principles of any party, in prOmugatng a party platform, can
go to the polls and have as much voice in the making of party nomi-
nations as can any party man. Under such circumstances well may
it be asked of what use are party organizations?
In a nut shell the question is whether the country and the vari-
Gus commonwealth and communities shall vote for measures OF for
men. Those who want to cast their vote for definite legislative pro-
grams, for governmental policies that are certain and known iii adj
vance, who demand to know in advance what may be expected of
the individuals they choose to office, favor the party primary plan.
The writer believes that stronger nominations can be made by party
representatives in convention than can be secured at the polls but
If the system of choice at the polls is to be the rule, then better re-
suits can be secured by combining the power to choose candidates for
the party to members of that party. Otherwise a candidate NAV he
a splendid man of high integrity, a useful citizen, honest upright
and generally public spirited but not in full accord with all the
principles OF the party whose nominee he seeks to be, opposed to a
part u It's constructive program and still may be made the party
nominee by non-partsan voters over the wishes of the registered
members of the party.
Thus it is proposed to have party platforms adopted in party
conventions and party nominations mean something to the voters
Under the proposed plan a voter must register as a Republican, a
Democrat or an independent. If he be registered as a Republican
he will be given a ticket which contains the names for office on the
Republican ticket only, f a Democrat the Democratic ticket, if an
independent ne may assist in nominating an independent ticket.
The writer recognizes that the present law has the support of
the socaued independent or non-partisan vote but he, favors as he
has always done the maintenance Of strong political organizations
and regards them as the most necessary element in preserving the
governmental system of the land of himself and his ancestors.
The writer would go further and would have the law provide
that any ballot not marked in accordance with the instructions upon
1t should be considered defective and not be counted for any candi
date. Thus, if two senators are to be nominated and the voter marks
nut II the three or four nominees, such ballot would be defective
SO also II the voter undertook to vote for only one of the several
candidates for nomination on the supervsoral ticket, the whole ticket
would be defective and no vote cast for any Of the county Offices
This would strike a death blow to single shoung'' and similar
trlckery that Is destructive to party integrity and success. Such
a provision can easily be included in the proposed legislation.