F H S Class of 87

Source: By Michael Tsai, Advertiser Staff Writer

Advertiser library photo

Farrington was born in Orono, Maine, in 1871. He arrived in Honolulu at age 23 as the new editor of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser (later The Honolulu Advertiser).

Farrington, an active member of the Republican Party and an advocate of annexation, led the paper for three years before leaving to take over the Evening Bulletin.

When the Bulletin merged with the Hawaiian Star in 1912, Farrington assumed the duties of vice president and general business manager.

Farrington's political career began in 1921, when President Warren Harding appointed him governor of the territory.

In two terms as governor, Farrington enacted a wide range of new laws that directly affected Hawai'i's social and political development. In 1923, he signed a law asking Congress to treat Hawai'i like a state, a move that would provide access to additional money for education, roads and other initiatives. Two years later, he asked Congress to eliminate travel restrictions for Hawai'i residents seeking to enter the United States.

A strong advocate of education, Farrington signed a law in 1923 requiring that minors 6 to 14 years old attend school. In 1927, he signed another law allowing the Department of Public Instruction to establish English Standard schools, creating a notorious dual school system that lasted until 1960.

Many of Farrington's acts as governor were in response to growing labor unrest and attempts by workers to unionize. In 1923, he signed an anti-picketing law aimed at discouraging union activities. A year later, he sent the National Guard to Kaua'i to quell a Filipino worker strike that turned violent. Sixteen workers and four police officers were killed in the incident, dubbed the Hanapepe Massacre.

In 1929, the last year of his term, Farrington signed the Unlawful Assembly and Riot Act, again aimed at punishing union-related activity.

Among his many other notable actions, Farrington signed off on a law banning billboard advertising. Hawai'i remains the only state with such a law.

After his terms as governor, Farrington returned to the Star-Bulletin as its president and publisher. He died in 1933.