The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-05-06

the United States senate. We believed
WE could secure the passage OF the bin.
in congress, OF failing of that, secure
n submission Of the question TO the PEG
pie of the Territory
Accordingly, the executive committee,
of the antisaloon league directed me
to proceed TO the mainland in pursuit
of two chief purpOsesS First, to enlist
the national order Of Good Templars In
the establishment Of lire Of total alb
stinence lodges throughout these Is
lands. Second, to promote the passage
of the johnson bill then pending in
the United States senate, prohibiting
the manufacture and sale Of intOxicat-
ing drinks in this Territory.
The first of these purposes has been
accomplished. The leaders of the great
worldwide society Of Good Templars
met my overtures with the most prompt
and cordial hospitality, and they
propose to put organizers at work here
to found social centers at convenient
points where music, instruction, debate
and social pleasure shall unite in aid
of personal abstinence and the enforce
ment of law.
Congress Receptive.
Arriving in Washington, found both
houses Of congress in a receptive mood
to my message. But Senator johnson
had died, leaving the bill that he had
introduced, without sponsor I dis
covered promptly that bill in congress,
| to be successful, needs a live member TO
push it. After addressing the senate
committee on Pacific Islands and Porto
Rico in the interest of the johnson bill
and finding it very sympathetic, 1 can
vassed the situation carefully and fixed
upon Senator Curtis of Kansas, a Greg
ularn Republican, a convinced prohibit
ZIONIST, strongly interested in the native
races, by blood, reason and experience,
eloquent, energetic and popular, and
asked him to introduce a substitute for
the johnson bill. He did so, gladly,
and pledged his best endeavor to secure
| its passage. The committee accepted
| the substitute and voted to report it
favorably.
Then we struck snag. Prince Ka-
lanianaole, the Delegate, induced the
senate committee to grant n rehearing
at which he strongly opposed the Cur
! tbs bill as n violation of the principle
| of Home Rule. He was Mt all stages
4 of the contention entirely friendly to
the doctrine of prohibition, but very
! Jealous of the popular prerogative. His
argument with that of Mr.. Mcclellan,
strongly supported by sundry civic
bodies in Honolulu, was very influential
with the committee.
Delegates Argument.
If the protests of the chamber of com
merce and the bar association of this
city carry in spirit any opposition to
prohibition they were very skillfully
| framed, for they urged nothing but the
principle of local self government. The
committee appealed to me to conced'
the point and submit the question to
the popular decision. have no means
of knowing what the decision would
have been if had refused. But as it
seemed to me I was beaten in the argu'
ment, and, more than that, was con
scious of the merit of the Delegate Is
position, and I had all along had in con
temptation the securing of a plebiscite
in the event of failure on the original
proposition. l therefore entered into a
stipulation, of record in the committee
that If the Prince would then and there
/ agree to stand with me in the house
and in the plebiscite l would agree tC
a Joint resolution submitting the matter
to the people. The stipulation wal
made, and the Prince has kept his par
Of it Loyalty and perfectly to this time
1t is my Judgment that the action Of
congress is better than what we sought
, at its hands. With full power to orde1
prohibitory policy for the Territory
congress has acted with the sinceres
courtesy toward the people; and great
vital question of advanced citizenship
, is put into the hands of the Hawaiian
voters ] do not predict the outcome
but we shall have a great campaign Of
: instruction and inspiration, and wheI
it is over, il the liquor traffic is lief
unscathed, to continue its demoralizing
deadly, shameful work in the Territory
the responsibility will be left in nj
manner of doubt, and the licensing
boards will have definite information
as to the condition of the public senti
ment. If we carry the election, as
am bound to hope we shall, the legis
lature viii realize that it must ODE,
, the popular mandate, and the executive
officers will be encouraged and strength
ened to enforce the law, new vision
of duty and chivalry will open to tn,
self -indulgent rich and strong, nev
sense of opportunity and power will
inspire the home, the church and tn
, school, and higher, brighter epoch viii
dawn upon the Paradise of the Pacific
Congress Watching.
Not only so; but our victory viii
5 carry meanings very much wider thar
the boundaries of the Territory TIL
, congress of the United States has order
/ ed this election. | am not agraid to sa,
that congress desires these Islands t,
become antisaloon Territory. Their
: was not dissenting vote in the senat
] and after hot debate in the house, tn
senate action was ratified by a vot
of about three to one. But for the en-
= trance of the home rule issue, the Cur
tbs bill would have passed, by approx
imately the same vote. There will b
) disappointments and difficulties whel
the territorial constabulary comes t.
enforce the new law. These will arts
in large part from the unsatisfaetor,
condition of the federal internal rev
enue laws, and the federal regulation
of interstate commerce. The clear out
lines of these wrongs, as this Territor,
II will exhibit them will cOmDel eOn