The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-13
TEMPERANCE
LEGISLATION
Local Option Campaign
Enthusiastically
Opened.

Enthusiasm marked the opening of
the local option campaign at the First
Methodist Church last night. The
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
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
Jesus?" After the offertory and the
singing of Coward, Christian Sol
diers" by the congregation, Senator
Dickey was introduced.
Mr.. Dickey gave in concise form
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, 'ShouId the saloon
be abolished?'' The merchants should
say eyes" for every cent spent in
the saloon lessons the merchants
sales. The taxpayers should say
90 yes;'' 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 viii 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 fair
giving the voters of each
precinct the opportunity to declue
whether that precinct would have the
saloon or not The plan had met with
success in many of the states and the
oil which the Senator intends to in
Iroduce at the next session is based
IN that of Massachusetts. He hoped
hat the measure would meet with the
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
great principle when he answered the
disciples who complained that another
vas casting out devils in the name of
he Master by saying, Whosoever is
lot against us is for u.s. But while
We must have individual effort we
must remember that others have the
anne duty. We must respect the opin-
ons of our fellow men. From this it
ollows that we must have a plan of
oncerted action if we expect to ac-
omplish anything. In his parable of
he fields ripe for the harvest, Christ
aught that the reward of the sower
vas as sure as that of the reaper. Amy
God cause in any community can be
arried to a successful conclusion not
wo years from now but now, if suffi-
lent effort on the part of individuals,
efficient consideration to others, and
nited endeavor are put into the work.
'ut we must do our civic duty with
ut expectation of reward, and care
ass whether the result be realized
ow or at some future time
In regard to the Dickey bill, Mr..
told of the success of the
ystem in Massachusetts and Califor- {
ia. In the former State each munich
atty submits the license question to
he voters every year. The educa
onaI effect of this yearly discussion I
the question of itself is of the -,
reatest value. Cambridge, the seat
Harvard College, has gone ono Ii
,nse' for twenty years and the :
ght becomes easier every year. In I
alifornia the question is submitted l
very election, though the boards of d