Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-01
TERRITORY WIDE
Prohibition IS
NOW IN PROSPECT
House Democrats Free to Pass
- Anti-Liquor Act This
Session
BY c. S. ALBERT
Especial Star-Bulletin Corrasoondence.)


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. IT,
Especial Correspondencel- fight
for nationwide prohibition now is IN
full swing. The slogan has been
adopted "Pass a constitutional amend
meme before Christmas"
Hawaii would be affected by this
action, if approved by fhree-fourths OF
the States. II would mean the COM
plete and permanent abolition Of the
liquor traffic.
In the meantime efforts will be
made to close the saloons in Hawaii
long before the time required for the
approval of an amendment to the con-
stftution. Several measures are now
before congress intended to make the
territory dry. These viii be urged
for passage Immediately after con.
gress assemblies for the long session,
December 3.
Judging from previous record votes,
the next showdown will place HAWAII
in the prohibition column. 1t rs doubt
full whether a referendum vote will be
accorded, although that plan is favor
ed in the house. The District of Co
lumbia goes dry November l, and the
residents were given no choice in the
matter Congress simply decreed an
icewater diet without a referendum
vote. r&- -..-..s
"Dry" Forces Active
The Anti-Saloon League and other
prohibition societies are organizing a
formidable movement to put through
a bone dry" amendment to the con-
stitution at the next session Of con-
gress. IL. -,
The forces led by Rev. E. C. Din
widdie, Rev. James Z. Cannon and
others of the Anti-Saloon League are
preparing for great campaign
against open saloons.
At the session of congress Just
closed the prohibitionists were handi-
capped by the promise Of the Demo-
Gratis of the house not to take up any
general legislation against intoxicat-
ing liquors. They had to content
themselves with securing legislation
through riders to important war
measures. They will be free at the
coming session to fight for the reso.,
Triton providing for an amendment
for national prohibition.
The senate adopted the Sheppard,
resolution at the last session, but the
house pigeon-holed it in the judiciary
committee. Immediately upon the
converting of the regular session in
December, Chairman Webb of tho
judiciary committee will ask that the
resolution be reported. Mr.. Webb is
one Of the active prohibition leaders
of congress and believes that a dry
nation can fight better than a wet
one. H.
Free for Action Now
At the beginning Of the last session
before the house was organized, when
there was doubt as to whether the
democrats would be able to reflect
Speaker Clark or not, New York and
Massachusetts democratic members
from wet districts threatened serious
trouble unless the leaders Of the house
promised to call off the prohibition.
lists and defer action: on the proposed
amendment for national prohibition.
The democratic leaders gave their
pledge, but next session conditions
will be quite different and but little
legislation on the program.
Prohibition leaders in the house
and senate are more confident of vic.
tory at the next session than they
were in the session just ended. While
the resolution went through the senate
with but weak opposition, it was ad-
Initted that the necessary two-thirds
in the house could be secured with
difficulty. Among several of the ar
dent prohibitionists a delay was re-
garded as Of the utmost value. 1t
would give them time to build the
fires back home and make victory a
certainty later on Estimates of the
number who would vote for the Shep-
pard resolution in the house were SO
close to two-thirds that it was not
thought wise to make fight.
Plans for December T. III.
Ever since the resolution was pass.
cd by the senate the Anti-Saloon
League and allied forces have been
laying careful plans for the work Of
the second session of congress. Every
pressure has been brought to bear
on members in the doubtful list I'M
their home districts. ..=..
The prohibitionists hope to get the
question settled by Christmas. Ten
tatiTe plans are to report the resolu.
ton as soon as congress convenes so
it can be debated while committees
are making up the big supply bills for
the war and ordinary expenses of gov.
ernment A final vote will probably
be taken just before adjournment for
the holidays. In addition TO the pres.
sure brought in home districts the
prohibitlonlsts Will use every pos.
sible personal persuasion in Decem.
Der. plans for, which have been care
fully laid.