The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-05-18

.
tons He stated that, in his opinion,
the retail trades were getting hystcria
before the people we're. They admitted,
he said, that their sales were up to,the
mark, and corresponded favorably with
the sales for the same period last year.
SO far as he could find out, and he
said he had enquired among the stores,
nothing had dropped vet and he agreed
with Senator Castle that present ae-
tion by the chamber of commerce was
premature.
harrington For Motion
| Wallace r. Harrington, general man.
ager of the Star-Bhlletin Publishing
Company, spoke for the motion in
answer to Mr.. Bishop. He said that
the chamber had just had il drummed
ia to them not to wait until something
happened but TO take the buIl by the
horns He believed that the chamber
should take the stand that the retail
merchants should be treated as men
who knew their business n
Mr., Adams, of the Bergstrom Music
Company, gave specific evidence, which
was among the little supplied by the af,
frmative side of the debate. His com
pany, he said, had two canvassers in
the field taking orders for talking ma.
chimes, pianos, etc, and that he had
given them instructions when the scare
started 20 ascertain Us accurately as
possible the reasons for not purchasing
these articles. This had been done, he
aid, and his two canvassers had report.
I'd that a number of people land they
Iealt, he said, mostly with the middle
classes) who would ordinarily have
fought o fifteen dollar talking machine,
had not done so because they stated.
that they had heard that there was moi
going to be enough to eat in Honolulu
soon.
Although Mr. Efinger had alleged,
that some people were taking theiI
money out Of the banks and putting IL.
in holes in the ground, Mr.. Lewis, Of
the Bank of Hawaii, joined the fight
against the motion. The chamber, he
said, had been noted for Inconsistencies
in the past, and he thought that this
would be a good time to be consistent.
He would not like to see advertising go.
out under the chamber of commerce Is
name on such subject and have the
food commission later publish a report
which would indicate that the claims
of the retail board were wrong. He
urged conference between the retail
board and the food commission where
views could be exchanged. .NI
Wants q Censorship ..i
Another bank official got on the other
side of the fence when L. Tenney Peck
manager of the First National Bank
spoke for the motion and urged that in
addition Pthe editors of the newspap
pers be brought into the matter and cen
sor the news TO jibe with the policy of
the retail trades board. - 1t would do
little good he said. TO advertise and
have an editorial policy continue which
helped on hysteria. He referred to the
Associated Press despatch yesterday
morning, stating that Senator Cumminsl
had said that under certain conditions
America faced starvation at the end of
the year. as the Kind of news that the
editors should suppress
Finally Mr.. Lewis, explaining that
II was a compromise and contrary to-
his own opinion which would put OF
action, moved an amendment that d
committee he appointed 10 handle the
matter, consisting of two members of
the retail trades board, two members
of the food commission and the presi
dent of the chamber of commerce. Mr..
Dole asked that Mr.. Lewis reconsider
his amendment as the food commits \
sioners did not wish to serve for two
reasons, first because they had their
hands completely filed with the duties
Of the commission, and secondly be!
cause they would be embarrassed by
being in the minority on the commit
tee, indicating that they were at
variance with the views of the retail
people. atrt .
The amendment was not withdrawn,
however, and passed, with every mem
Der Of the food commission present
voting against il. The motion as
amended was then put and also passed,
with the food commissioners still vot
ing no. The opposition, however
could not muster more than ten or
twelve votes. .h,
President Hagens of the chamber
who himself became member Of the
committee appointed as the other mem
bers John Efinger and W. G. Melon.
agile to represent the retail trades and
James d. Dole and +. Il. Blake TO re.
present the food commission.
Mr.. Efiinger expressed the wish that
the food commission do nothing to
stop the immediate campaign against
retrenchment -. ar E..
Among the many side issues which
were discussed was the national guard
recruiting campaign. Injudicious adj.
vertising said Mr. Towse and Mr.. Far
rington had resulted in the complete
failure of the campaign, and the fact
that each guard company had taken
up the matter Independently had also
contributed to the collapse Of the cam