The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-11-21
DOES HONOLULU
NEED REFORMING?

and leaders Of other religious o.ganiza-
tons was called and cur president was
invited to attend to represent the w. c.
L. U. A memorial to Congress was for
mulated and signed by representative
from each society for its membership ag-
In all more than a thousand.
which was sent off on the first outgoing
steamer and was wired from San Fran
cisco.
vigorous protest from the Liquor
Dealers Association in San Francisco
reached washington probably week
ahead of ours. At any rate, the clause
was stricken out and We have had an in
crease Of licenses for the last few months
and the amount of beer sold Is appalling.
We have received during the year let
ters from several prominent refcrmers
chief among them Mrs. Mary Livermore,
Mrs l.. NJ. 1. Henry and Josiah Strong,
president of the League for Social Pur-
ity. He says in part: I'VE wish to
bring all the influence possible to bear
upon the Judiciary Committee of the
House, to which have been referred thes
various bills for amending the Constitu-
tion with q view to the suppression Of
polygamy. Petitions, personal letters adj
dressed to the chairman or other mem.
bsrs of the committee will serve to inn
press them with public opinion, which
ultimately controls Legislatures, and"
he adds, Il am Inclined to think that
such letters or petitions from Hawaii
would have exceptional interest and in
duence." The Hon. Mr.. Landis' famous
speech on the Roberts case was read. in
extracts, at the same meeting.
Mrs. Jordan, corresponding secretary,
answered Mr.. Strong's letter. assuring
him Of the sympathy of the W. C. T. u.
of Hawaii In every effort for social pur-
ity and the suppression Of polygamy, but
no action was taken in petitioning the
legislative committee. 1t is not too late,
and We hope action will be taken at
once.
I am sure that 1 voice the feelings of
the members of this Union In saying that
the outlook is discouraging. What with
an increased number of drinking places
and the brewery near completion, 1t
looks as though the temperance people of
Honolulu ought to marshal their forces
and seek through legislation some radi-
cal change. The Evans dispensary law
of South Carolina seems to have been a
great success. The claim made by the
advocates of the dispensary system in
South Carolina that it is now universally
regarded as an Improvement upon the IL
= cense system. has been practically sus-
tanned by the vote at the recent prmar-
les.
OF the five Gubernatorial candidates at
the first primary not one stood for the
old system. Four championed the CON
tinuance of this dspensary and one com
plete prohibition. The vote that was
polled indicated that fifty seven Thousand
citizens approved of the dispensary as
the best solution of the liquor question.
while thirty-four thousand asked that
even the dispensaries be closed.
At q later primary to determine which
of the two leading candidates should be
the party nominee the dispensary candi-
date was again successful. The verdict
: given represents the views of practically
| all the white voters at elections in which
partisan considerations in no way affect
ed the result. 1t shows what the people
2 of the State of South Carolina think of
: the dispensary system after seven years
t of experience.
] In the beginning the dispensary was op-
: posed by the conservative or aristocratic
! wing of the Democratic party and it's
1 forcement was at times almost para1yzed
n by hostile decisions of District and Cir
Y cult Judges of the United States Court.
e One of these decisions went so far as to
Z declare that pint bottles Of liquor ship
e ped into the State by the carload could
: be retailed in the original packages with
It out let or hindrance, because South Caro-
lima did not prohibit the liquor traffic and
l. therefore was not exercising police pow
n er in its attempt to close dram shops.
IS The United States Supreme Court set
e aside all these subtleties by unanimous
/. decision and made thorough enforce
# ment of the dispensary system possible.
e With this enforcement the conserva-
If tive faction disappeared and the new
n system came to be universally accepted
save by those who are content with moth
J. ing short of prohibition.
r With the advent of DIR. Chapman, a
Sc vigorous temperance worker and anti
Is saloon league organizer. and Miss Acker-
> man, whom we all know as an enthusias-
tic temperance advocate, who will soon
l. visit Honolulu, let us take heart and
l. hope for some radical reforms during the
A. coming year. We hail with gladness the
ID Protective League of Honolulu in which
N public moral sentiments will find an ar
n dent supporter. God speed their work!
e sort of supplement to the above
;. was then read regarding the fermented
: wine used in the beginning of the year
v in the communion service of many of
le the churches. Since that time, how :
y ever. the clergy have gladly co-operat-
% ed with the society in it's good work
20 and unfermented wine is being largely
er used. The following is the report:
b. Mrs. Gulick was appointed early in the
+ Year to investigate the. native churches
as as to the kind of wine used at the com
I'd munior service. She found tha. Kawaia.
at hao and the Wailuku churches were using
,e fermented wine. but the pastor of eacf
ur church assured. her that he would use his
IN influence to introduce unfermented wine
n. Mrs Rider interested us greatly at ou
10 March meeting In a mission that she ant
n Mr.. Rider had started down town, takins
I'd in the streets arabs, as they are called
an in other cities She stated that there wer.
No twenty-five or more at each weekly meet
ing of this class of boys. She asked thai
IN a member of the W. G.. T. L. take entire
n charge of one meeting each month. j
IN met the warm approval Of the Union ant
m Miss Green volunteered to conduct 9
re meeting when called upon.
re- We have assisted in small way In de
or fraying the expenses of the Seaman's
r. Club and received grateful acknowledg
ss ment from Mr. Frank Cook.
tn The treasurer, Mrs. L. B. Coan. read
IL the financial report which is herewith
er given in full:
en- Mrs L. B. Coan, in account with the
RI w c. T u of Honolulu for the veal
ss ending September 30. 1900:
n RECEIPTS.
-, -, Annual membership fees .....-..s 20 D
;" Honorary membership fees
= Pledges and collections ......s-.. ll5 j