The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-12-19
RODERICx 0. MATHEsON, EDITOR
Deserving the Solons

CTHAT the prohibtionsts are steadily winning
u in Gahforniai AID that the dealers in intoxi-
cants see plainly the handwriting on the wall are
facts evidenced in many ways not the least signi-
fcant Of which is the recent expression of desire
on the part Of the hotels, wineries and breweries
to form an alliance with the temperance organiza-
ton for the abolition of the saloons That section
OF the California press which before the election
was screaming advice to the voters to Vote no on
both amendments" is swinging around to an
attack upon the saloon. 1t is plain that the situa-
tion has reached the point where the liquor inter
eSts face desperate situation and are fighting
solely to save something The saloon and the saloon
interests are being jettisoned.
A remarkably frank exposition OF this policy is
contained in the December 2 issue OF Western
Hotels and Travel the organ of the hotel interests
OF California, under the heading The Time for
the Complete Abolition of the Saloon has Arrived "
The hotel journal says:
1t seems that last there is general awakening =
the evils of the saloon the irresponsible in
which most of them conducted and their general
harmfulness to the community at large The general
public has at last to thorough realization OF
the true situation and even the authorities are taking
notice to q certain extent and commencing gene
raj cleanup, but, Mr.. and Mrs General Public, gene
raj cleanup is not going to bring about satisfactory
condition That condition will only about through
the complete abolition of the saloon and the saloon
evil All too long have these parasites been feeding
upon the public, sucking the blood from every
munity in which they have been tolerated. You are
commencing to realize that these interests are
not those of the community at large; that you
get along very well without them and in doing so
you will not even be jeopardizng the enormous in
vestmen represented by the vast acreage planted to
wine and table grapes, neither will you be in any way
restricting the production Of grain or barley for with
the abolition of the saloon and the well regulated
use of beer and wines in the homeland clubs and
hotels and restaurants into this category-there
will be hardship worked upon the Producer it only
q clean business run along legitimate lines as
against the vicious unregulated saloon. The average
saloon will not want to continue in business If
the restrictions such that they will satisfy the
general public He looks for 100 per cent profit all
the time, and he gets it one way or another: The
spent his last and then throws him out. The
corner saloon, with its back room for women, many
of whom, after they have drank too much, find their
way to the barroom itself is responsible for the de-
generacy Of saloon patron and the evil repute in
which the business itself is held by the general
public which is demanding the change in conditions,
Mr. Hotel Man, and you, too Mr. Restaurant Man, you
have got take your place in this campaign against
the saloon 1t is an evil that recognize must
not be permitted to exist in our midst any longer.
The saoonmen themselves are now setting about on
their own account to set their house IN ORDER, but
they have started too late The public is thoroughly
that is only subterfuge to win votes in an
effort to continue their high,handed nethods of de
stroying the morals of community in which they
are permitted operate. They have started in their
reform movement, and they show promise of being
just cireumspeet in their behavior as the small boy
before Christmas, but count upon the lapse
from grace once they get by the election Their
methods well known and there is no being
rnisled by the promises they making now, for
full well what their conduct has been in the past
80 there is no use in going about your hght in hail:
fight for il is your interest that is at stake The
pTohibitionists in the field and have started
their campaigns and unless speedily join the fight
you find your service bar included in their listed
enemy ranks. So now get out, Mr. Hotel Man. and
take your place under the right banner before it is
too late. That applies to you, also, Mr.. Restaurant
Man. You cannot afford to be listed with the saloon,
placed in the class, for its spells ruin
to you So take the warning and get in the fight
for the complete abolition of the saloon Its your only
"a salvation.