Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-03
" DECEMBER 3, 1917
Public Sentiment and Prohibition

!. Good reason exists for the rapidity with which
the prohibition petitions just put into Circulation
are receiving signatures
Public sentiment in Hawaii is rolling up behind
prohibition 1t is rolling up steadily and rolling uI
at an impressive speed.
Individuals and firms which in 1910 would moi
consider aligning themselves with the prohibition
cause do so now without hesitation.
Men who in 1913, 1915 and early in 1917 insisted
that the federal government had no proper business
making Hawaii dry are now not only perfectly
content but eager to Congress enact legislation
that will ban liquor from the islands.
Why the change?
There are many factors. Primarily, the booze
business is thoroughly dscredited in Hawaii. Since
the election of 1910 there have been saloon scandals
and brewery scandals, deeds of violence and deeds
of theft and knavery traced directly to booze that
the evil influence of booze in the community has
been established beyond all argument. Even more
powerful than this, perhaps, in swinging over the
sentiment of Hawaii's business leaders 10 the econo
mic factor The use OF liquor is recognized as
inimical to good business. The employer Who drinks
habitually 10 becoming as outofdate as the empoye
who drinks habitually. 1t is perfectly wellknown
that the use Of ntoxcants lowers efficiency, and as
business competition in Hawaii becomes keener, en-
ployers are demanding of themselves and OF their
men that all ftcut out of the booze"
The nationwide strides of prohibition have had
their reflex here Az state after state has been add
cd to the .allwhite column" public attention here
has been challenged.
The allimportant fact of war has given prohihi.
tion great impetus. 1t 10 wellrenembered that
when the United States entered the war, there was
"a instant stimulus to prohibition here additional
restrictions were imposed on saloons and cafes;
YIube voluntarily carried ont restrictions for them
selves Unfortunately, it is also an important fact
that there is much "boot Logging and @blindpig.
ring. The many infractions Of the liquor regula-
tions have added to the decided opinion that Ia,
-vaii should be made entirely .dry.' ~
6 For long time the s'home rule" doctrine was
psed as an argument against liquor legislation in
Washington to make Hawaii. dry. Prohibition ad.
rocates here, notably the Anti saloon League gave
every opportunity last spring for the Legislature to
make cean.cut statemeat the prohibition Issue.
There il no question that most citizens Of Hawaii
would prefer to see HaMaii 60 dry By vote here at
home than by washington action But lust as
POLITICAL maneuEerng political trickery and political
fhcanery in the past have been called into play to
befog the issue and defeat anything like home rule
On the prohibition issue 30 will such political mani
puiation be called into play in the future if ever
and whenever there is proposal for referendum
Or plebiscite in Hawaii. .
In plain words, the prohibition advocates here
do not feel that they can rely upon the good faith
Of those ostensibt most anxious to see the liquor
1uestion put up for settlement by vote at home.
Among the congressman who recently visited here
we're several who are energetic champions of pr0hi
bition 1t is certain that at least one or two Of
them found time to dig down into the liquor situa.
ton here and to get glance at the devious trail of
king Booze That ought to help in securing ac-
ton at Washington.
Ii the prohibition advocates had any hope that
the hone rule. doctrine would be carried out fairly
and squarely; il they had any hope that politics
eould be kept out Of plebiscite their justification
for seeking action in Washington would be much
less than it il.
Hawaii is at war; We are plunged into our part
6f the nations tremendous struggles struggle in
which we cannot waste an atom Of strength, an
ounce OF food, a cnbic foot OF cargo space nor a
minute Of time which might be useful for the coun.
try's service
There is not an employer in Hawaii who does not
know that his organization is more efficient with
out booze than with booze There ID not fair.
minded man in Hawaii who does not know that
this territory would be more efficient without booze
than with booze.
DENVER WOMEN ACTIVE.
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