Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Volume X, Number 7, 18 February 1937 — OAHU COUNTY COMMITTEE CRITICIZES PATRONAGE POLICY OF CENTRAI BODY [ARTICLE]

OAHU COUNTY COMMITTEE CRITICIZES PATRONAGE POLICY OF CENTRAI BODY

Demand that the Democratic Territorial Central Committee use more care in the future in end.ōrsing applicants for ppsitions under the Democratic administration was made unanimously at the montlily meeting of the Oahu County Committee. Many of the loudiy denounced the sys&dopted by the- Central C.ommitte.e whereby it has endorsed many app3icants f or positions without requiring the prior approval of the precinct club of tlie applicant and approval of the County Committee. It was pointed out by some County Committeemen that several applicants had been endorsed on 1 h e same day they signed the rolls of t h e i r respective precint clubs or even before, in some instances, Only relatives of the Democratic 'oligarchy' in the Territory have received preferred consideration," declared one irate County Committeeman. "T h e Central Cōmmittee seems to have become the tool of this 'oligarchy' and has not been operating for t h e benefit of the Democratic party in Hawaii as a whole." Would Enforce Ruleg A motion was unanimously adopted to request that the Central Committee hereafter require that al! applications for endorsement follow the regular procedure as 1 a i d down by the by-laws: 1. Pjreci.nct club inembership yerification. 2. County Conlmittee approval. 3. Central Committee enclorsement. In connection with the p<itronage question, Committeeman E. E. alker, by letter, disclaimed any responsibility on his part for failure of the Executive Patronage Committeef recently authorized, to act effectively. He advised the County Committee that the Executive Patronage Committee has not yet been organized by National Committeeman John H. Wilson, who is its ex-officio chairman. Henee, explained Committeeman Walker, nothing could be done until that body is set up regularly for business, WiUon Requested to Act Unanimpusly the committee voted t h at the attention of Kational Committeeman Wilson be called to the provisions of Article VII of the by-laws of the Democratic Party in Hawaii and that in conformity with that.j>rovisionf he organize the Executive Patronage Committee as soon as practicable. National Committeeman W r ilson is expected to return to Honolulu next week after a visit to W T ashington on official postoffice business and attendance at the second inaugurataon of President D. Roosevelt. Professor Domenico Moro, committeeman from the 19th precinct of the sth district, who was one of the County Committeernan t h a t recommended formation of the Ēxecutive Patronage eommiWee, expressed the very emphatic opinion that earlier organization of the Executive Patronage Committee would have cured mahy of the errors, mistakes, misunderstandings and hypocrisies whieh have cropped up regarding appointments in the Territoria! government. ' Ks non-formation thus far, he deciared, left a loophole for the "Dr. JekylJ-Mister Hyde Democrats to get a w a y with some of the tricks they have pulled." # Central Committee also was taken to task for its failure to act as yet on the County Committee's propojsal thāt the next party convention—in 1938-—be held on one of outside Islands. Unless a decision is reached almost immediately, it was pointed out, the entire value of the suggestion would be lost, as calling a cohvention for another island early m 1938 would mean a "proxy" eonvention, as the majority of the Oahu delegates might not be able to make the trip for financial reasons, whereas,' if the convention date and scene are announced long ensugh in advance, systematic savings eould be commenced to allow these delegates to attend. A resolutioh w r &s.passed unanimously requesting the Central Committee to make an early definite decision both as to the time and plaee of the 1938 convention.