The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-07-24

myself to believe that thoughts OF law
or the community awaken much senti-
ment in the heart of the average agent
of the liquor traffic The traffic is too
constantly and completely evil in its
fruitage, too devoid Of any uplifting in
fuence. to leave even a good man : con
science unclaimed in the traffic when
once he has given himself to il. Note
what has recently transpired in Chi
cago. The city has been suffering from
an extraordinary number of thugs and
hold-up men. An investigation proved
that the suggestions and inspiration for
such depredations emanated so often
from the saloon that the city was
amazed. These saloons pay license of
$500 as the result of an effort to con-
troll them. Yet this Is the way they are
controlled. 1t has required the hardest
kind of a fight to raise the licenses to
$1,000 in the hope that the number will
be still further Iessened and better con-
troll secured. The liquor men fought
fercely to prevent the raise. They
have threatened the political death of
all the aldermen who did not take
stand with them, and are also threaten
ing other elements in the community.
What can you expect from such people?
You may limit their number somewhat.
But do your best and you will have a
sorry enough lot left. A traffic which
mothers poverty, crime and degradation
as the liquor traffic does is disreputable
One would naturally expect it to attract
the disreputable as its agents. Per-
chance a few somewhat respectable
men will be found engaged in its
service because it pays. But a goodly
number will sell to minors, DRINKS, sell
on Sunday, and in any other way vio-
late the law as long as there is a pros
pect of being let alone. They will fig
ure in politics too until many of them
will be let alone. Yea, they will even
tamper with commercial interests until
many business men who at heart are
opposed to the traffic play hands off for
business reasons
In the third place high license is lit
tie more than a temporizing method of
dealing with the traffic and its evils. |
1t simply determines where and how
the beast shall fatten. The beast fat |
tens all the same, and at the expense of |
the drinker, his family, and the COM
munity while they are impoverished. |
AS long as that is the case not great |
deal is accomplished.
l have dealt with the pros and cons
of the license system on the proviso
that the traffic is going to go on any
way. [ now raise the question as to
whether it is necessary to concede that
it must go on anyway. | do not think
so. | believe there are enough good
people in every community wishing the
death of the thing to kill it if only they
would get together. [ am glad in this
to quote from an Advertiser
editorial of July Is, elf the elements
in any American community opposed to
The liquor traffic take it into their heads
to enter the field of practical politics,
things will begin to happen which will
not be pleasing to saloon men, OF
course, if the majority of the commun-
ty want the saloon then it must go on.
But if not, then it is not necessary that
t should continue. Does the majority {
want it. that is the question? 1t ought
% have no friend among religious peo-
de. How can Christian man have
my favor for the traffic when Mr. Juen,
who has himself been in the saloon for
years, says of it, PERSONALLY, [ feel if
had my way I would stamp it. from
he face of the earth" If saloon
aan can say that, surely there are peo-
he enough against the traffic to kill it