The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-15


this mornings issue, entitled High
License vs. Prohibition" suggests the
possibility of something decidedly bet
ter than the present conditions which
chara cterize the liquor situation in our
Territory. The slogan which the Ad-
vertiser proposes-"Lo option and
High License''-and its call to the tenn
perance people TO stand with the liquor
men on platform that represents
such a middle ground are worthy of
serious consideration. If this issue be
squarely Joined such a strange jux-
opposition of forces does not appear
impossible
The Anti-Saioon League is composed
of men of many shades of opinion,
prohibitionists, who love no COM
promise, to optimistic opportunists
ready to fight for any measure which
promises TO mitigate the saloon evil.
such a league until it has declared by
formal action it's mind on the question
of what measures it will support.
Doubtless, however, there would be a
who would gladly battle for a law call
ing for high license. provided it should
also give the temperance people the
alternative of square local option
AS pointed out in yesterdays Ad-
vertiser, the present law contains a
feature suggestive of local option, but
unfortunately it is 50 framed as to be
little less than useless. It provides no
machinery for registering public opin-
ion- In order to prevent the opening
of a saloon it is necessary to secure
a protest signed by majority of the
registered voters of the precinct. To
do this time and expense are required,
items of considerable moment if not
absolutely prohibitive in sparsely set
tied districts where the saloon is a
greater social menace than even in
cities. Moreover, the matter is never
decided. for no sooner is one applicant
turned down than another may APP
pear to insist upon the same cumber |
some method of registering the public |
will. Furthermore, the question of !
where the fundamental issue should be
the saloon and not the saloonkeeper- 4
The people should not be compelled to
decide a. question of public policy in a
manner SO complicated with individual
interests.
In this connection it may be peril
nent to add that the Anti-Saloon
League is not in the lists to contend
with the keepers of saloons. It's quar-
rel is never with them the men, but
always with the institution, the saloon.
The legislation asked for by a large
nUmber of temperance people in the
Territory is an honest fair to-all local
option law. which shall give to the
voters of every precinct at each cleo
ion the opportunity of expressing
their Will as to whether saloons shall
De or shall not be licensed within their
precincts This is distinctive
American way out of the difficulty,
outs no one to any expense, gives to
10th sides a free field and no favor
and wherever it has been tried has
Deen found a thoroughly workable
1t does seem as though the Adver-
User is right in suggesting that if the
liquor men are ready to agree to Such
IN honest local option provision the
forces might well meet
hem by a willingness to support high
license. 1t may not be too much to
rope that both the Anti-Saloon League
md the Civic Federation may stand
With the more pubic-spirited repre- I
;entatiVes of the liquor interests in
common advocacy of a law that shall
'mbody the Advertisers platform of
Local Option and High License" Such
IN alliance might seem truly millenial,
nut all things ideal ought to be posi-
lie in Pacific Paradise. Yours in
,ivic interest
DOREMUS SCUDDER.
Chairman Committee on Legislation.
Anti-Saloon League
Honolulu April Il 1916