The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-02-14
TEMPERANCE
LEGISLATION

the local option campaign at the First
Methodist Church last night. TIL,
church was filed with an audience that
remained interested TO the end The
meeting was an informal one and the
arguments that were presented were
of the common sense variety. Civic
reform and the temperance question in
particular were the subjects discussed.
After the singing of several hymns,
Mr.. Richard H. Trent took the chair
and the regular program was opened
with the singing of Coronation
Rev. Mr.. Wadman read the twenty
third chapter of Proverbs and offered
prayer. The choir then rendered the
anthem, "What Will You Do With
JesusG" After the offertory and the
singing of Coward, Christian Sol.
diers" by the congregation, Senator
Dickey was introduced.
Mr.. Dickey gave in concise form a
powerful argument for the suppression
of the saloon, setting forth that prob
ably less than one and one-half per
cent of the community were even
financially benefited by it. The fam
lily of the drunkard should say eyes"
to the question, "Should the saloon
be abvlished'" The merchants should
say Eyes" for every cent spent in
the saloon lessons the merchants ;
sales. The taxpayers should say
eyes" drink fills the jails and insane
asylums and in numerous ways in
creases the expense of the government.
1t is argued that even if saloons were
abolished men will drink. This is true,
but, with the removal of the open sa-
loon, half the temptation to drink is
removed. Senator Dickey then ex-
planned how the local option law was
an entering wedge. 1t was a fair
proposition, giving the voters of each
precinct the opportunity to decide
whether that precinct would have the
saloon or not. The plan had met with
success in many of the states and the
bill which the Senator intends to in
troduce at the next session is based
on that of Massachusetts,. He hoped
that the measure would meet with the
support of all.
Mr.. d. L. Wilmington was the next
speaker, and he made strong plea for
individual personal effort for civic
righteousness. Christ laid down d
great principle when he answered the
Il a,,.Ia 1n.. @l.A L.
was casting out devils in the name of
the Master by saying, "Whosoever is
not against us is for us. But while
we must have individual effort we
must remember that others have tn.
same duty. We must respect the opin
ions of our fellow men. From this it
follows that we must have plan of
concerted action if we expect to ac-
complish anything. In his parable of
the fields ripe for the harvest, Christ
taught that the reward of the sower
was as sure as that of the reaper. Any
good cause in any community can be
carried to a successful conclusion not
two years from now but now, if suffi-
cient effort on the part of individuals,
sufficient consideration to others, and
united endeavor are put into the work.
But we must do our civic duty with
out expectation of reward, and care
less whether the result be realized
now or at some future time.
In regard to the Dickey bill, Mr..
Wilmington told of the success of the
system in Massachusetts and Cdifor-
mia. In the former State each munich
pality submits the license question to
the voters every year. The educa-
tional effect of this yearly discussion
of the question of itself is of the
greatest value. Cambridge, the seat
of Harvard College, has gone "no Ii
cense" for twenty-five years and the
fight becomes easier every year. In
California the question is submitted
every election, though the boards OF
supervisors may overrule the vote. Yet
pressed will of the people. Here where
new life is springing up the educa-
tional feature of this periodic discus
sion of the liquor problem is in itself
enough to commend the act to the
Legislature.
Mr.. Gilbert, who was prominent in
the local option fight in Oregon, gave
graphic description of the methods
employed in the campaign there.
Above all, local option was fair
proposition-on that voters were will
ing to listen to. Men who were willing
to take drink down town would sup
port a measure that would keep the
saloon out of their own residence
neighborhood. Enthusiasm and con-
certed work won the fight in Oregon
against heavy odds. The young peo-
ple's societies took up the fight and a
house-to-house canvass was made. By
enthusiasm and pull all together the
fight may be won. If the present Leg
islature proves to be favorable to the
saloon men, the fight must be waged
at the polls when the next Legislature
is chosen.
After Eelection by the choir of
the Japanese Methodist Church and a
! few apt remarks from Pastor Wadman,
DR.. Scudder closed the meeting with
prayer. A feature of tho evening was
the singing of the choir. Appropriate
selections were rendered between the
addresses.
The act imposing tax of $500 upon
| every Chinaman entering Canada has