The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-05-14
THE DEMON RUM
HARD TO SUBDUE
Increase of Cases of Acute Alcoholism
Follows Abolition of
Canteens.
WORST SHOWING is IN MAINE.
To Gust Big Devil His Whole Front
Must Be Driven
Back

100 ~ - W NNiNiJ iit'' Wv ASAAc'
ing editorial respectfully submitted to
the w. c. r. t.:
If the demon rum had continued to
this day chained to the burning lake,
we doubt very much whether the sons
of old Adam would be any better off
than they are. There have been al
ways about so many of mankind who
would have had something anyway.
If rum had been kept below, they
would have fallen victims to his cou-
sin demon, Opium; and if Opium had
also been suppressed, they would have
worshipped Cocaine, or Coffee, or To-
bacco, or even Tea, or wOulu have
been tempted by some other demon as
yet, fortunately, undiscovered. But
Rum has been on earth since nobody
knows when, and still is on earth
very much on earth-greatly to the
distress of many good people of ne
gative appetite who love the Angel
Temperance. Now, theoretically, we
hate Rum like poison, but he is big
devil pretty strongly entrencned be-
hind the affections of many classes of
men, and even women, and if he is to
be ousted from any one of his earth
works his whole front has got to be
driven back simultaneously. We wish
the temperance advocates, and espe-
cially the Christian Temperance Union
women, understood this-they could il
they would inform themselves of GER
tain conditions that have recently de-
veloped near the national old soldiers
homes. A year ago the Sundry Civil
Appropriation bill abolished the can
teens herein hitherto maintained In
the name of temperance what mas this
abolition accomplished? In eight
months, according to Major Moses
HAMS, general treasurer of the board
of managers
The number of cases of acute alco-
holism treated increased. The
smallest increase reported was thirteen
per cent. at the Pacific branch (Santa
Monica, California;, and the largest,
ninety-one per cent. at the Eastern
branch in Maine
The largest increase was at the
| Maine home, and Maine is ''prohibi-
| ton" State! In explanation here is a
compressed statement from the report
of the governor of the home
The number of saloons which have
been established in the vicinity of the
home since the anti-canteen provision
cannot be positively stated, because
such places attempt to work secretly.
Observation would Indicate that the
number has more than doubled There
are now places in the vicinity of the
home to which the members resort in
large numbers to all appearances for no
other purpose than to obtain liquor.
This liquor is of the vilest. Pocket
peddlers are numerous. Some of them
have become so bold as to attempt to
ply their trade within the reserva-
ton"
OF such a nature are the recently
developed conditions of which we
spoke Nor are these conditions pecu-
liar to the vicinities of old soldiers
homes they are also to be found near
most of our army posts, and are so de-
| trimental to the service that General
Frederick Dent Grant, who prides
himself on being a total abstainer, said
not long ago that he was in favor OF
re-establishing and maintaining can
tees until the time comes when the
civil authorities abolish those dens
near military reservations kept by
vicious persons who tempt the soldiers
of our army to their destruction"
UOOOOOO0OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
will be bad news for the local sports
as every one expected to see them in
action with some of the scrappers in
the fleet. They do not expect to return
for at least six months.
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