The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-02-08

next session, would pass n drastic law
20 regulate the liquor traffic.
This action ON the part Of Hackfeld
& Co has been the hardest slap the
LIQUOR interests of the Territory have
vet received, and the association deal
ers are still staggering from the blow.
In connection with this, IL mas been
commented upon that Frank Thompson,
who 10 now the active antiprohihition
lobbyist at Washington, retained by the
association, is also the attorney for
Hackfeld q Co.
Chamber Of Commerce.
The chamber of commerce members
have been called to meet on Monday
afternoon to discuss the "home rule"
feature of the proposed legislation,
President Morgan having issued the
call for the special meeting yesterday.
The members will convene at three
clock
The meeting of the merchants asso-
citation, which had been announced for
the same afternoon, has been postponed
until Tuesday afternoon at half-past
three, the official CALL signed by the
secretary, Emil A. Berndt, stating that
it is "for the purpose of considering
the matter of certain proposed legisla-
| ton of congress affecting Hawaii and
local self-government,"
| Members of both organizations will
be actively canvassed for and against
the question of prohibition, although in
| both meetings there will be the attempt
made to have all references to prohi-
bition ruled out and only the broad
principle of the right of the Territory
to legislate for itself discussed.
Probably no meeting of either body
ever attracted the attention of the gen.
eral public as much as these meetings
Of Monday and Tuesday will.
Business Men Writing.
In the last few mails a surprising
number of letters from prominent bust
ness men and capitalists have gone
forward to Washington in favor of the
passage of the prohibition bill. Com
pairing notes, many of the ones support
ing the bill have been surprised to find
how strong the general prohibition SEN
timent in Honolulu has become and how
strong is the belief that the prohibition
!, bill will eventually become law.
Is There Planters Lobby?
Whenever there is a prohibition dis
cussion the question of the probable eff
feet of prohibition upon the plantation
laborers is brought up. 1t is stated
that over sixty per cent of the intoxi-
eating liquor sold and consumed
in the Territory is sold on the
plantations. This is principally sake,
: which is distributed by illicit dealers,
the cooks, teamsters and others on the
plantations.
1t is stated that ninety per cent OF fhe
e Il fa1ara1 l;cancaC iccpad in tbic OrIr
exclusive of those issued to holders OF
: territorial licenses, are issued to plan
Q tation employees and that in most eases
the names of these employees are
known to the plantation arrangements
t Opponents of prohibition urge that
any attempt TO, shut off the sake anJ
, wine supply of the plantation laborer:
will result in labor troubles and the de
: sertion of the Territory by the Japa
e nese and Portuguese laborers.
"You do not suppose the planters
are not taking action in this, hope, '
Il said one yesterday who is conversan
e with the distribution and consumption
l. of liquor on the plantations 81 thinl
d it is quite reasonable to suppose tina
the planters have already taken step
to be represented before the senat
committee in opposition TO the BILL"
e Brewery Stock Affected.
4. The effects of the prohibition move
n ment were noticeable ON the stock eX
=, change yesterday when brewery stocl
f took a tumble from %, the price a
u which the last sale was made, to 1875
&c No sales were made at that figure, blu
a. holders were only asking 20. Brewer
i. stock has been well above par for
long time, and when it started on tn
a downward path its decline was yer
:, gradual But yesterday the bottom fe
m out and the drop came.
.e The brewery came in for considerable
n. criticism at the time of the last visit o
Ia the cruiser squadron, when beer wa
n. sold Sunday on orders procured frol
saloons the day before. AS a resul
of that agitation there was some an,
iety evidenced by holders of the share
IT and the effects were noticeable in
Or wavering of price on the Change. I'll
IN stock has not been as strong at an
al time since.
n There were rumors current yesterda
Of of considerable blocks of brewery stoc
o. offered after the session at less tina
IN the 10. so quoted, but if any sales wei
T. made they were kept very quiet. 4
" Street Discussions.
r. The prohibition question has cause
m, more discussion on the treets than al
IS other public matter which has come U
in long time. That the liquor int
mt ests are very much worried is eviden
ne and advices from Washington are beiI
or carefully scrutinized. Many persol
re who under other circumstances wou
he oppose any move on the part of the fe
on eral government to exercise police po'
lit er over this Territory are very loath
II. take a stand which may be construt
es as opposing prohibition and for tn
ng reason it will probably be difficult
the opponents of the prohibition bill
es muster any united forces ON their sid
ID 1t is freely charged that the liqu
I'M men brought the present crisis up
to themselves by trying to secure !
Vi. vision of the liquor law at the last st
ID. sion of the legislature after the Repu
- | liam nm harc had praofioaltu tAIa1,