The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-09-05

avs. To more effectually cope with
this great evil and TO deal with it
from practical standpoint. it might be
suggested that the present liquor law
be amended with the clear and UNI
equivocal purpose in view, and power
thereby, to lessen and limit the num-
Der. TO improve the management, to TX
location, territorial limits and hours or
business of saloons, as well as to guar
antee the responsibility of those who
may be granted licenses and also the
responsibility OF the places so kept
Prohibition, however desirable or COM
mendable it may be, viewing 1t from
an ethical and beneficial standpoint, Is
inpracticable and impossible of en-
fofcement under prevailing conditions,
and for that reason alone it would be
a futile waste of time and energy TO
seek to esta blish such law.
In combating an evil it is worse than
useless to attempt the impossible; be
cause while precious time and vital
energy are thus being consumed and
wasted, the evil continues to flourish
ami take deeper root. 1t would seem,
therefore, upon consulting our plain
common sense and daily experience
together with an earnest consideration
IF the matter in all its phases and from
every possible point of view. that high
license, high bonds and local option
with strict governmental supervision
and control, coupled with the constant
aim and purpose to minimize the evil
and to promote temperance, thereby
improving the social condition of our
people, is the only practical solution
of the liquor question.
An "a evil of iiODOr drlnklnS
is that of gambling. At the April, 1906,
term of this court, gentlemen, l took
occasion to charge the grand jury
upon this evil as follows: This Of
Tense like that of drunkenness, is not
only a most pernicious evil of itself, but
it is often preliminary to and instru-
mental in the commission of other and
graver offenses. Gambling tends TO
dea den and blunt the moral sense, as
we'll as to destroy the elements of in
dustry, thrift, economy and prosperity
1t is destructive of self-respect, sta
bility and manhood, as well as of every
principle essential to good citizen
ship
Chapter 21F~ of the Revised Laws of
Hawaii clearly defines and points out
the various phases of gambling pun
ishable in this Territory. The Ian
guage of the statute is broad covering
many schemes for the disposal or dis
tributiou of property by chances
whether called a lottery, rattle. che-fa,
pakapio, gift enterprise or by whatever
..aIne the same may be known.
The raffles which occur in bar
rooms. at fairs, and at other places
are clearly within the statute as the
most elaborate and carefully organized
| lotteries by which the ignorant and
| credulous are swindled out of their
hard earnings. Nor does it make any
| difference whether the betting or rattle
be for religious, benevolent or profane
purposes 1t doubtless is difficult for
those who are not constantly brought
in contact with this great evil to real
ize it's prevalence in this community,
or it's demoralizing and debasing fnf1u-
ences 1t will require but moments
reflection, however, to bring to our
minds some appreciation of the enor-
nifty and baneful effects of this evil,
when we are told that there are sew
| eral che-fa banks in Honolulu in al
most constant operation, each with
numerous agents going out seeking and
| soliciting victims in every street, lane
alley and by-way, as well as in other
| places in this city: thus, as it We're.
sapping the very life-blood of the COM
munity, and visiting impoverishment
upon many and bringing distress into
| their homes. But, gentlemen, doubt
| less you are aware that che-fa and
other Oriental games are not the only
gambling games to be found in Homo
l,5lu: nor is gambling confined to the
Oriental alone. You may be able to
lear important information in the
line of your duty upon this question
of gambling by calling as witnesses
those other than Orientals and from
places other than Chinatown. The law