Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-02
A cLEAS-crT pRonIBITloN ISSUE.

for submitting the issue to vote Of the people of this
territory next July.
The substitute Chillingworth bill carries out the
theory of "home rule, IL provides bonafde prohi-
bition il is a sound bil-sound in morals in law,
in equitable treatment for the liquor business, and
in practical method of testing the dry sentiment
in Hawaii
The Star Bulletin voices the opinion of probably
the majority of voters in saying they prefer prohibit
ton brought about by the people of Hawaii TO pro
hibition brought about by Washington. But up TO
the time when Senator Chillingworth took his stand
with the dry forces and started the legislation, il
did not seem that the way would he opened for a
vote of the people here at home. The Republican
Territorial platform had unwisely carried a plank
pledging the party TO sstandpatism' on the liquor
laws. and even the rapid change in sentiment, even
the growing force Of the prohibition issue, could not
apparently govercome the objections of Republicans
to ignoring this. plank.
Senator Chillingworth's proposals brought the
senate to The point of placing the liquor issue before
The people. And the Star Bulletin has no hesitation
in saying that in showing itself alive TO this vital
public subject, the senate has done service much
higher than the negative service of standing pat on
standpat platform plank which does not fit condi-
lions today
Asthe aevelophlents have come the question will
o. the legislature and that promises to help rather
than to hinder action in Washington.
The reason for thisis simple. There is apparently
not the renotest chance that ctngress this session
will pass the nowpending bill calling for plebiscite
on rpferendum by the petition method. The Hawaiian
measure is buried, with hundreds Of others, in a
mass of undigested, uncompleted legisaton--shov-
ed aside when the national crisis called for attention
above everything else
Nothing will be done with liquor legislation should
IN extra session ofsthe 65th Congress be called That
extra session will be devoted entirely TO military,
nayas and similar preparedness matters though
possibly the senate may handle the large number Of
unconfrmed presidential nominations. But at any
rate there now seems no hope whatever for action
by this Congress on prohibition in the territory.
Anyaction by the next Congress would probably
not take place for at least year Ii might be we'll
along in 1913 before Congress would pass such legs-
lation and probably then it would take the form of
referendum to local vote. After the referendum
provided it carried-at least nine months or a year
WOULD be given before the law went into operation.
Hence il Hawaii waits now for Congress to act it
may be 1919 before the territory really goes sdry
Under the bill now in the senate here. should a
vote next July give a majority for prohibition, the
territofy will 60 dry in July, 1918
The -Anti-Sal0on League has headed the prohibi-
ton fight in Hawaii 1t has also headed the fight
before Congress, maintaining its representative at
the national capital The league foresaw no chance
81 getting favorable action in the territorial egisla
fDre and hence took up the battle in Congress But
The league now puts itself squarey into line on the
rhome' rule basis by unequivocally indorsing the
present senate bill and declaring that should this
bin come before the people in special election the
league will heartily support it. 1t might he added
hat PRESIDENT Peters letter indorsing the senate
bill WIS written before the senate had adopted the
July lebiscite Amendment but that in conversation
with the editor Of the Star Bulletin Mr.. Peters de.
caresthe league viii abide by the decision Of the
seuatt and will support the dry bill in the result
Ing referendum vote.
With this stand by the leading temperance organi-
zatoof the islands, there will not be division of
forces on the side of prohibition
TheEtar Bulletins attitude on the liquor question
Is vel known This paper believes that Hawaii
should join the "awhite' column of states and ter
ritori steadily growing as the voters get chance
to express themselves. And we believe absolutely
that With organized forces the prohibition advocates
can vein the July election.
What has impressed itself upon thousands of men
and women in Hawaii in the past five years is the
economic argument against booze The man who
drinks is giving way to the man who doesn't drink
Manylbig corporations hesitate to employ men who
nse liqnor-many others do not hesitate don't
employ such men. Modern business has condemned
booze Jas an injury to progress.
In Hawaii there are countless men-not teeto,
tslers-who say frankly, 81 drink occasionally but
would vote in minute for prohibition in Hawaii
nrl,.,&n arc countless emnloyers who cav ~ wish