The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-13
A HEARING ON LOCAL OPTION
CONTINUED from page oneJ


would be for the saloonkeepers to Sc
cure a majority of such signatures. 1t
is a difficult thing to secure a majority
of the signatures of the voters of a
precinct either for or against and is
a very expensive matter. And while
those opposed to saloons may feel con-
ident that the people of some districts
are opposed to saloons, they find 1t
impossible in the time allowed by law
to secure the necessary signatures, es-
pecially in the country districts. For
this reason, and because as soon as
one license is refused another appli-
cant may Immediately apply for IL
cense and necessitate the work being
done all over again, for the matter
cannot be settled once for all, the local
option law has been proposed.
The law is in force in many states
of the Union, in South Carolina the
state dispensaries having been done
away with and such a law carried.
In all thirty-nine states have the law
on the statute books. The law is a
peculiarly American law, the result of
| the demand of the common people to
have the control of the liquor traffic
in their own hands. The American
principle is that the people shall de-
the local option bill is it's perfect fair
ness.
| The present law is not fair to the
people. In the district of the speaker
there are no saloons, because there
are enough wealthy and influential peo-
pie there to keep saloons out without
having to petition for it. But in Ka-
kaako, where poor men live and none
have much influence. there are many
saloons preying upon the people.
GIVE the people of Kakaako the,
chance every two years to say if they
want saloons or not and those there
who do not want saloons can see that
| there is some hope for Them" urged
the speaker.
Elections may pass without doing
away with the saloons, but in Kaka-
ako even, in time, a sentiment will
arise that will shut the saloons out.
At any rate the people there can de-
eide, and it is their right so to decide,
| whether they want saloons there or
not
1n h ic i1rSf tn Ia SQ1nnnKpnnpr
| who will have the same chance of ad-
| vocating his side with the voter as
the temperance men have and the on
ly cost will be that of printing the ball
| lots.
The law will not change the condi-
tions of the general law in precincts
voting for licenses.
A large number of the prominent
people of the Territory are backing the
local option bill; it has the unanimous
backing of the Civic Federation,
non-politicaI party seeking to advance
good government: it has the unanimous
endorsement of the Anti-Saloon League
and the representatives of ninety three
of the old, original Christian Hawaiian
hurches In practise it has been
found to work well elsewhere.
KALEIOPU AND THE CIVIC FEDS
Kaleiopu asked regarding the Civic
Federation, wanting to know what was
the real work of the organization. DR..
Scudder explained what the work was,
instancing the investigation now go
ing on into the school system. He
was about to elaborate along these
Ines until Kaleiopu cut in to ask about
the choice of candidates for the House
by the Federation.
Kaniho Clipped in. He had been
listener too long and seemed to resent
having the floor monopolized. He CALL
ed down Kaleiopu for asking inmate
rial questions and wanted him TO let
the Civic Federation alone and talk on
the bill.
Ka1eiopu agreed and wanted to h10w
if the main object of the bill was not
to limit the sale of liquor. He was
told that the real idea of the bill was
to leave the whole matter directly to
the people as the speaker had
found that there is a large proportion
of the people DESTROYS of shutting out
the traffic and the bill gave them a
Uharne to express themselves.
Kaleiopu demanded statistics. which
Dr. Scudder was unable to supply off,
hand. He was then asked if he did not
hir.< that all precincts would favor the
So looms. Scudder denied this, but
could not specify for the questioner.
In precincts where there are large
proportion of Hawaiians he thought
the vote against saloons would surprise
many. The bill was especially in the
interests of the Hawaiians and the Ha-
waiian homes. He knew how respon-
sive the Hawa;ians were to appeals to
their best nature and he prophesied
that as a result of the campaign which
would be carried on If the bill passes
the result would be immensely benef-
cial for the Hawaiians, appealing to
Kaleiopu to bear him out in the state
ment that the traffic was greatly re-
stricted when the power had been IN
the Hawaiians' hands. He felt that the
Hawaiian people could safely De trust
ed to decide the matter justly.
IN SPITE OF THE PEOPLE.
Kaleiopu thought the restrictions
40 mana rpb wore n Snitfs of