Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-01-13
FRANKLIN AUSTIN RESIGNS

To the Anti-Saloon League, Honolulu
Gentlemen 1t is with regret that
| feel compelled to tender my resigna.
| ton as member OF the Anti.Saloon
! League and as second vice president
| of the organization. | have had this
action under contemplation Tor some
time, but have hesitated TO sever my
connection completely from temper
ance work lest the public should take
II as evidence OF lukewarmness in the
resolution | made year ago today.
On the contrary, desire to take the
opportunity of renewing those resoIu.
tons and testifying to the happiness,
increased mental power and health,
life OF total abstinence mas brought
me. Although the higher life mas been
accompanied by unlooked.for trials.
through an unCalled.for persecution
and attempt to discredit the first and
only disinterested, sublime work | was
ever inspired to do for the sake Of hui
mainly. through the initiative oil per.
sons whose aid and sympathy, instead
of opposition. | should have had, |,
nevertheless, hereby declare my un
swerving conviction in the principles
Of temperance, which | have consist.
entity lived and taught and my deter.
mination to persevere in high purpose.
II is with regret that cannot make
IL consistent with my conscience to
longer remain a member of the Anti.
Saloon League, and 1t is pertinent that
! give the reasons therefor: First, I'M
der existing political conditions the
League is powerless to influence the
Government In favor of temperance.
Although the personnel of the League
is in sympathy with the parry in pow.
er IL has been impotent to prevent the
issuing of some iorty.seven additional
saloon licenses, and has not held sin.
gle public meeting under its auspices
to protest against such extension OF
the liquor traffic; second, no relief In
the way OF Legislation can be looked
for except through the instrumentalHy
of the dominant party. and the person
mel of the League Is obnoxious to and
opposed to the principles OF the Homo
Rule Republican organization; third.
through the instrumentality of the
League large sums oil money have
been collected from the public and
wantonly expended in paying a large
salary to its superintendent ($2500 per
annum) and for other purposes, which
have accomplished nothing in the pub
lie interest; fourth, beneving, as ! do.
that your president, 4Ir. Theo. Rich.
ards, was the initiative and largely In.
strumental In directing The slanderous.
false and Matchmaking public attacks
recently made upon my character, |
cannot longer make II consistent with
the spirit of manhood to let my name
remain connected with an organization
Of which he is the head. especially as
the association of my name with his
in any way will surely bring me into
popular disrcpute.
/ deem II to be my duty henccforth,
as ! conceive II to be the duty of every
other gentleman OF high purpose in
the community, to devote my energies,
influence and such brainIorCe as /
may possess to the task OF assisting
the effort to purge this community oil
the systematic boycott by innuendo be.
ing practiCed against those holding
I Independent and conservative views,
| by certain powerful social, business
and church organizations. which Is
detrimental to the public welfare and
| progress along traditional American
iines;" in the hope that the time shall
come when n man may reform from
the drink-habit and take place in the
community his abilities and social
standing entitle him to, without being
subjected to slanderous innuendo and
open hostility from those who should
have befriended him, and thus driven.
by dependency back to the saloon
and congenial companionshlp.
Most respectfully yours,
| FRANKLIN AlISTIN
Honolulu, January 10, 1902.