The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-04-26
Liquor Men Call Convention and
Dealers Gather in From
Other Islands.
WILL PLAN A CAMPAIGN
Ready to Make Sacrifices to Nee
Temperance View, but Not
Sure What OF.
[From Sundays Advertiser.)

Honolulu at present is the center of
the whole liquor business of the Ter
ritory, there being delegates in town
from the liquor dealers huis Of Hawaii
and Maui, with more expected today
from Kauai. These are to meet tomor-
row with the liquor men of Oahu to
plan campaign and take steps to meet
those of the prohibitionists.
Dave Meyer, manager of the Maui
Wine and Liquor Company, of Wal
luku, heads the Maui delegation, while
J. G. Serrao, the president, treasurer
and manager of tine Serrao Liquor
Company of Hilo, comes as the leader
of the Big Island delegation. He is
also answering subpoena to appear
as a witness before the federal grand
Jury in the investigation being made
into the affairs of the local internal
revenue office, thus combining business
with pleasure.
The liquor men of the Territory real
ize that they have big fight on their
hands and they are going to take con-
certed action to defend themselves and
secure the defeat of the prohibition
movement.
1t is reported that they have deter
mined TO jettison a part of their cargo
in order to bring the liquor craft safe
ly through the storm and that they have
about decided on what part of their
load they can best spare to save the
rest. One subject that will be brought
up at the meeting, therefore, will be
that of the elimination of the rectifers
business. For the past several months
The Advertiser has been calling par
ticular attention to the brands of imi-
tation WHISTLES, wines and gins being
served the patrons of the smaller sa-
looms, with the result that so much at
tention has been directed to the recti-
fiers, and the rectifying business
brought SO much into odium, that it is
thought a sacrifice of this will be tax
en- as an evidence that the liquor men
desire to do the right thing
To bring this evidence Of goodwill
before the public, it has been suggested
that the liquor men make the elimina'
ton of near-booze a part of their plat
form. They will agree, if the voters
turn down prohibition, to give up THEN
rectifying business and refuse to handle
any rectified goods from the mainland
They will also agree to modification
of the present law, making it more
stringent in its saloon conditions.
This is the saloon policy. What the
wholesalers will think of it is another
question. The wholesalers are the ones
who profit most from the rectifying
business. They are the ones who hold
the few rectifers' licenses and who
manufacture the near.whiskies and the
near.gins They argue that these liq
uors are as pure as any and quote Presi
dent Taft to prove it. They want to
retain this feature of the business, but
are willing to see the number of saloons
cut down and the restrictions on the
bar trade made tighter.
Each is willing to do some sacrificing
but wants to do it out of the Other
fellows pile. That is what the meet
ing in Honolulu has been called for, tt
settle the question of what the liquor
men are willing to give and take
amongst themselves and what they are
willing to give and take with the pro
hibitionists.
This is practically the beginning o,
the fight on the part of the<1iquor in
terests; the prohibitionists will define
their lines as soon as John G. Woolley
arrives, although the skirmish line ha'
been out and on duty for weeks, evel
since it was decided to have plebis
cite taken.