The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-02-12
LOCAL OPTION.

legislature promised The liquor dealers
themselves through their organization frankly that
they want changes in existing laws The AntSaloon
League with equal rankness that also has pro
gram
However reasonable in the abstract the notifications
by the liquor dealers prompted they will be assumed be by
e general pubic by self interest they likely receive and
scrutiny
The proposals of the AnSaoon League will at least free
from the suggestion of immediate self interest in those who put
them forward They may therefore be discussed with less
at in this respect least that they proposed without
bias they may be discussed without por suspicion preu-
dice To discuss the proposals of the liquor Dealers by that
TACT in too many minds least be suspected avo-
cacy OF the liquor interest of being retained against
as to the proposals of the AntSaoon League, investigate
them necessarily be opposed to the prime purposes of
the league for there may be better
cusson And in the form in which the AnSaoon League pro-
posa put support necessarily advocacy of the
Leagues main purposes for liquor dealer might find local op-
ton entirely cononant with his political opinions and beliefs
1t is local option therefore that here proposed discuss
First it may be we'll to define the AS applied to the
relation OF government the liquor traffic means system
under which question of the licensing or prohibition Of the
traffic is regated the people of localities whole
state territory either by pebce OF sort through
local municipal government The local option may be either of
counties cities and towns of smaller district ward
election precinct or precincts districts divided off for the de-
termination Of this question and other AS local option has
been proposed here has very often least generally
been with the idea of giving the people of each election
precinct or other precinct division the say whether
not saloons should be licensed within their borders.
Local option has been put forward though indie
pendent principles though something Obvious and
yet unrelated to any other principle that all Whatever their views
on the liquor question whether pobtons high license advo-
Gates low license advocates, license advocates what
might unite local option principle, without sacrifice of
their other particular regarding the liquor question.
But this SO? Is not local option dependent principle and
independent principle ALL but merely
the most vooness means to end, tool spade equally
adapted to dig grave or unearth treasure?
Grant local option and what then? 1t is useless pocket
shoud except accomplish something else in this
ton either to plant saloon in locality
must from the very of its definition when applied to the
liquor traffic become tool be struggled for with which the
prohbionst waze saloon, the liquor traffic will
Local option fundamental principle that the peo
given right what Shall
la
mental principle 1t cannot be because it always inter-
changeabe principle people the people
that right For instance when the United States declared
Spain, it the whole American people who with
Spain No state no county no locality could saw that Acting
under the principle of local option did join in the decaa
ton OF decided to remain The fundamental prn
cpe that the state has the right to determine these questions
for itself state, matter OF eNpedency detail OF gov
ernment may conclude that as to certain matters will allow the
people OF each individual locality decide certain
themselves and well do this where the matter such that
different determinations reached i'll different localities need not
interfere with each other But any is privilege grant
separate localities 1t right they have. The
withhold the privilege and do injustice
That local option not principle, but merely policy,
means to end shown by its history In Illinois, Ohio and
other local option is looked of fighting the
liquor traffic In those the question OF prohibition
incense were put TO e people OF the Whoe state the majority
would be against prohibition But by giving to each locality
right to determine the question for ITSELF many localities in
favor prohibition Local option in these states looked on
temperance 1t supported by the temperance ee
and where it an issue opposed by the liquor traffic
In Kansas and Iowa on the other hand where the prohibition
lists in control there is such thing local option The
prOhbtOnstS We control the whole state taken
unit divide localities control OLaty
therefore no local option In these the other
hand the liquor interest when practical question:
favor of local option 1t could control the whole
taken a unit. Divided into localities it could control
some of these.
In other words local option is temperance where
the temperance people think will help them carry their OBJ
ects; an-temperance where is thought will
work against these objects 1t isn't independent prnCpe it
isn't independent anything, it end If
you in favor of the end will lead you likely be in
favor OF local option you favor OF the end will
lead you not likely be in favor of local option In either
your advocacy of local option opposition is
matter of principle except far your ultimate object
ter of principle
If further argument necessary show that local option
independent principle let follow its application its
logical conclusion Under each county might have the right
determine for itself whether saloons should be licensed within its
borders Going into finer subdivision each taxation
district mioht be nriYiepe still