The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-03-11
POLITIC IANS
AVOID BOOZE
ISSUE
Members OF Both Parties Side
step the Prohibition
Question.
MATTER OF CONSCIENCE ONLY
The Republican Leaders to Meet
Tonight-Some Are Not
Invited.
MATTER OF CONSCIENCE ONLY
(From Wednesday Advertser.)

GfOnlDlllOn Is pdlnlul lsouc coic7
fully to be avoided by the politicians,
Judging from statements made yester-
day by several of the leaders. real or
would-be, of the two principal political
parties.
Prohibition is an issue which really
can not enter into political or party
calculations, don t you knowi 1t is
something which should nor be con-
sidered by the parties as parties. Real
ly, it would not be right for them to
take any hand in booze campaign. 1t
is out of their province, something with
which they have nothing to do. 1t
would be entirely improper for political
parties to exhibit any interest in this
question though it is most in the minds
of the voters of the Territory. That is
not what the committees are for.
The congressional resolution provid-
ing for a special election July to
decide whether or not the legislature
of the Territory shall pass prohibition
law has not yet been adopted by con-
gress. But though its passage is re.
'garded as at least not unlikely, the
leaders of the political parties are
wholly in the dark as to what attitude
their organizations will take.
A. ID. Castro, chairman of the Repub-
lican territorial central committee, when
asked about the matter yesterday, stat
ed that the Republican GENITAL commit
tee had no power to take any stand In
the matter or to make any declaration
of faith binding the party to prohibi'
tion or against it. The only way this
could be done, he said, would be to
: have n special primary election called
fn~ 4, h ttTtll nj N "
not be done.
'Even if we had the power to take
any stand in the matter,'' said Mr.. Cas-
tro, fI don't know what would be the
result. We are bound by the conven.
tion platform and have no right to 60
outside it.''
Democrats On the Fence.
John Emmeluth, speaking for the
Democrats, said that that party GER
tainly would not take any stand in the
matter. "The prohibition question,
he said els one that must be settled
by each man according to the dictates
of his own conscience. The parties will
not have anything to do with it. And
j believe that that is best. 1t is a
matter for each man to decide on for
himself. If the parties keep out, we
shall be able to get freer and fuller
expression of opinion"
John Emmeluth said that in his opin-
ion the real issue is not so much prohibi-
tion as pure booze. The present liquor
law, he thinks, can easily be so amended
as to do away with the chief evils of
the liquor traffic.
"If / had my way" he said, az
would have law enacted taking away
from the judges the power to impose a
fine on men convicted of violation of
the liquor laws. l would have every
man who breaks the law relating to
the sale of intoxicating liquor sent to
Jail, and / would double his term for
a second offense and triple it for the
third. think that would have more
effect than any prohibition law that
could be passed It would put some of
our prominent citizens in Jail, but that 's
where they ought to be.
"And I w0nld have the law made
so that any man found guilty of sell
ing imitation booze, or liquor below a
certain specified standard. would have
to go to Jail In my opinion the real
evil is not the use but the abuse OF
liquor. ! would take steps to do away
with the abuse.
81 have two contracts down in tbs
country now. Last Saturday ] wen
down and paid out $l400 in wages
OF that amount at least fifty per cent
went for booze-and mighty poor booz'
at that. The stnff that the laborers go
was poor dago red. If | were to pu
into my stomach the same stuff tina
they put into theirs, it would paralyz
me for a week.
w. A. Kinney, preeminent amonI
the Democratic leaders, said he coul'
not answer the direct question as Il
how the parties would line up in tn
event of the prohibition plebiscit
being called. "l have not given tn
matter any thought he said "a
far AS the other issue Is concerned, o
federal interference here. ! have es
prssed my views, | think we shoul
wash our own linen here
"Rut II there Is 10. be speeii
eleeiion on the prohibition issue, !
not know how the parties will line NJ
] am moi 10 q position 20 speak II
The Democratic organization aud ear
M say what that organization woul
do -
Mr Kinney referred 10 the sugge
lion emanaiing from loyernof fTea
Va The Advertiser Yesterday, Of goin
ahead nndeT iAs pIeseAt llqu0T las d
Hawaii 20 hTlng about necessary u
fofms, ena be aipsalsd 60 regard
elih favor
apselsl Meeting Called
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