The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-15
THE FORWARD MARCH OF
THE PROHIBITION ARMY
Walker Writes of the Progress of the Temper.
ance Ceuse--Congress Sits Up and
Takes Notice Now

of Withdrawals, it is known that over
three million gallons were bourbon
whisky and close to two and a half
million gallons were rye whisky.
The official figures likewise show
there was a material increase in the
consumption of malt liquors, under
which head are classed beer, ale and
porter. Taxes were paid last year on
fifty-eight and a half million barrels,
which was an increase of almost four
million barrels of thirty-two gallons
each.
The movement, which has overrup
several states and reduced the National
legislature to submission, is said to be
more against the saloon as an institu-
tion than an effort to correct the per-
sonal habits of individuals. The friends
of prohibition, whose agents and rep
resentatives are very active these days
at the Capitol, claim that the larger
drink bills, indicated by the Internal
Revenue Commission, are piled up in
the populous centers and that much
larger quantities of alcohol are used
for manufacturing purposes. officials
of the Commission are inclined to
doubt the proposition. Georgia, which
has just gone dry, paid last year 1,427
retail liquor dealers taxes at s25
piece, where Kansas, with about two
thirds the population, state under
prohibition, which has been reswept
with quickened prohibition sentiment,
took out 1853 such licenses. Every
drug store that sells alcohol in any
form must pay special tax and ac-
cordingly the figures do not neces-
sarily indicate that number of bars
where Intoxicating liquors could be
purchased. On the other hand Maine
last year paid 358 special retail dealers
taxes and West Virginia, slightly
larger state, paid 1,555.
The effort TO keep liquor out of inter-
state commerce, as regards the prohibit
tion states, is giving Congress the most
concern. Representative Littledeld, of
Maine, has been pounding away on
that proposition for years, but many
others have helped. Senators Tillman,
of South Carolina, and Clay, Of Geor-
gia, have been recent but prominent
a. the north end of the Capt.
toI. If the Littlefield bill, or something
like it, should pass, the original pack
age trade would cease, provided the
of the law were up
held. If Mr.. Littlefield can get his bill
out of committee, it will pass by an
overwhelming majority. 1t has recent
ly encountered a new obstacle in COM
mittee, with the suggestion from Cali
fornians that it would forthwith trans
fer the original package trade TO Can
ada, France and other foreign coun-
tries. Thirty Maine men would buy
from Montreal, instead Of Boston.
Paris, instead of San Francisco, would
supply the wine trade in prohibition
states. :
There has been a peculiarly hysteri~
cal situation in Congress with reference
to prohibition in the District of Column
bia, which comprises the seat Of gov
ernment. Elated with success in many
states and with the marked growth Of
friendly sentiment in Senate and
House, some prohibition workers an
nounced months ago their determina-
tfon to make all Washington "dry."
That might have meant the banish-
ment Of the tenacious punch bowls at
every tea and reception and OF wines
Continued on Page Two)