The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-21
THE SALOON
QUESTION
Discussing Prohibition
Amendment.
INTEREST IN HONOLULU
Some Opinions From Those Who
Favor and Those Who
Oppose Amendment.

What interest is Honolulu taking in
the prohibition clause in the Territorial
Bill? When the news of the bills pass
ing the House reached here much dis
cussion and agitation was caused. Has
the matter lost interest since? An
effort has been made to find out the
stand of lose interested Both the
liquor dealers and their OPPOSITION have
been seen.
1t proved to be rather difficult to Sc
cure Information or an expression of
opinion from the persons interested IN
securing the passage of this amend
ment. Rev. Mr.. Pearson was seen, bul
he refused to talk for publication.
Secretary Coleman, of the Young
Mems Christian Association was asked
what acton had been taken or was
going to be taken by the friends 0f
prob. bition here about the proposed
amendment He said that they had a
meeting at the Young Mems Christian
Association building. and that they
had drawn up letter which was
signed by several clergyiLen and other
prominent persons intt rested in proni-
blticn, and forwarded it to Congress.
Several private leuten7 to members Of
Congress were sent at the same time.
This was all that had been done, and
the only action that would be taken,
since anything more would be too lac
would come after the bill was passed,
either with or without the prohibition
clause.
Mr. Coleman did not feel at liberty
to allow anything more than the sub
stance OF the letter to be printed with
out the consent of other persons VINO
had to do with it's drawing up. This
consent could not be gained. The SUD-
stance of the letter was to the effe y
that the signers rejoiced in the fact
that the amendment had been intro
duced into the bill, and chat uney hoped
the good work would be kept up. They
said that under the present system oi
regulation of the liquor traffic here the
natives were dying fast. In view or
the recent increase of wine and beer
shops, they were apprehensive tina.
this death rate would be accelerated.
They particularly urged that since
Congress had provided universal SUI
frage for Hawaii, it was much more
important that this prohibition clause
should be included In the territorial
bill, in order that these weaker races
might be saved from themselves and
from their appetite.
T.. c. Macfarlane who speaks for the
dealers says:
IL wish 20 deny the statement in an
evening paper that the liquor dealers
here have sent a memorial to Congress
against the prohibition clause. They
held a meeting, and no action was TAX
en-, although the matter was discussed
| in all its lights. The Califor Iia Wine
Dealers Association is going to fight
The proposed law; not because it will
make any financial difference to them
! but for other reasons.
THE points of the whole matter are
that local option obtains everywhere
that every community in the Union has
the right to decide for itself wheiher IL
will have liquor sold within its limits
and that this community Is abundantly
able to take care OF itself In this re-
| spect. Not only each community, but
each part of most communities in the
United States. even in Massachusetts
where the prohibitionists are so strong
determines at the polls whether the
sale of liquors. beers and wines. shall
be allowed and under what restriction:
of license fees and hours. In no other
state can whiskey be so readily OBJ
tanned, In small or large quantities. AZ
in Maine. Prohibition does not prohib
IL: that fact has been established
beyond peradventure. The thing is tC
regulate 1t, not to abolish It, Electric
cars kills people: you try to REGULATE
their transit, not to cause their re
moval. High license and the present
regulations in force here now do tha
satisfactorily. and the community II
perfectly satisfied with the situation a!
liz is. and feels entirely capable OF run
ming its own affairs in this resDect az
do other communities: The thing Il
well managed and cleauly managed
here now. II this prohibitory CLAUSE
goes into the bill In its final shape
things will become more or less as the,
are in Maine. We have no low dive'
Tor dance halls or music halls here nov
where liquor Is sold. but we are threat
ened with CROP OF them and Of kitchen
barrooms besides, such as they have II
Maine"
Just as much liquor will be sold a
now. N not more. and there1l be tel
times az many Illicit stills The inta'
Iligent and far-seeing people here. sue
as DR.. Serene r. Bishop and men OF hi
stamp, know that all this Is the RICH
view OF the matter. ard have 80 ex
pressed themselves, either In print o
otherwise.
DO you think the clause was In
troduced into the bill for the purpos
of playing to the gallery. and in fu
expectation that II would be cut on
in oonference?' II has been suggeste
that the members OF Congress VIII
voted for II desired to pose before thei
constituents and please certain peopl
without doing any real DAMAGE"
ION that point II Is necessary
speak cautiously. 1t was done for pc
litical buncombe certainly: but
seems to me more than likely that tn
men who voted for II meant u 10
through. II was debated long time
you remember. There are plenty {