The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-02-08
THE LIQUOR Campaign In WASHINGTON
FOR HAWAII
tBy John c. woolley, in the FRIEND

ed on the theory that the federal govern
ment carried the right and the duty of
control, and that, without any atfront to
the citizens involved.
For the rest, an analysis Of the Ha-
waiian legislature and few life-like
sketches of its liquor personnel appeared
to be interesting and convincing The
patriotic anxiety of the legislature about
popular rights dropped with dull thud
before the statement of fact, that the
mere mention of plebescite to let the
Hawaiian people pass on the liquor ques-
ton would throw their misrepresenta-
tives into Mysteries.
For my argument in behalf of the Ha-
waiian people l read from the Pacific
Commercial Advertiser, the interview of
Prince Cupid-an ideal statement of our
case by the best possible authority. And
the case on behalf of the army and navy
was self-evident
In this first hearing l took pains to
publish all the weaknesses of our posi-
ton and all the criticism made upon it,
together with the authorship of them.
And in this connection | made a clean
breast as to the low temperature of my
own relation to the territorial statesman
ship and that my activity was resented as
that of a meddling outsider with a salary
l made it clear that I was not the author
nor instigator of the Johnson bill, and
had been in entire ignorance of it until it
appeared in the newspapers, but that /
had been instructed by my board, repre-
senting, in general, the Christian and
educational interests and activities of the
islands, to give all the aid in my power to
the BILL and that l was backed by prac-
tically the whole body of we'll informed
and we'll disposed native people. One
Senator remarked grimly, "They all seem
to be writing letters to me-"
| am very proud of the fact that the
Christian men and women of the islands,
the teachers and educated youth of the
whole group, have let loose an avalanche
of letters and petitions which in volume
and in subject matter has instantly COM
PEELED the attention of both houses of
Congress. One Senator asked me if I
did not expect counter current of let
tiers and petitions. | answered that 1
thought it could not be produced, but
that if it could we should welcome it with
enthusiasm, for we desired nothing bet
ter than to fight it out in the open. Of
course, it can't be produced. Churches,
schools, social settlements, missions and
Christian men and women can't be had
for that And such people as can be had
for such correspondence can't write con-
vincingly, except adversely, to their own
purpose.
One of the most powerful Senators
said to me privately, "You ought to win,
and think you will. but you are in for a
big fight" and leading representative
said, eff you can get past the Senate your
bill will pass the House" 1 replied 81
have here bill which wish to have in
troduced in the House. VIII you take
charge of it?" And he said, eyes"
I have written hastily and frankly,
with full knowledge that the enemy we'll
read, and do its worst So be it. We are
not playing politics, but fighting above
board, for the bodies and souls of men
and the honor of the flag, and want the
readers of The Friend to see the fighting.
We may not win, but we have fighting
chance to.
And remember this. If we fail the re-
sponsibility will be at the door of the
missionary whites. Give me the whole
weight of their influence and I'll bring
back the scalp of the liquor wolf.
Washington, d. c., Dec. 20, 1909.