Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-12
THE SALOONS AND THE WAR EMERGENCY

The offer Of the Honolulu SaloOnmrn TO close the
bars at in The evening would have come as som,
evidence of regard for public welfare If made weeI
ago.
Appearing now, il is merely another evidence tina
the booze interests make q reform until they
forced TO il. That is the old story everywhere
in the United States and il held good in Honolulu
even in snch grave situation az war crisis
What the salOOnmen here are trying 10 do now
Is TO save much OF their business possible oper
ate just AZ long hours possible make just as much
money as possible. Never yet have they led a move
mpDt for restriction. Always they have been driven
TO it by public sentiment-and they acting now
only because the warning is out that unless they
adopt early closing hours they likely to be shut
up altogether.
Their communication to the license beard--writ
ten by an ATTORNEYS full of protestations of pa
triotc attitude. II drps and drvels with assur
ances such as I'VE not 10 be outdOnP in patriot
ism 10y any other set of businessmen. In short
gentlemen, the dealers in liquor in Honolulu are
ready, willing and anxious during the continuance
Of the war, to do everything to assist the United
States of America
Yet, even in such a patriotic outburst the booze
interests do not let their sentiment run away with
their business caution. They are carefu--under the
advice OF their attorney-to fill their letter with de-
cIarations that booze isn't danger, that there is no
legal right 10 close the saloons at seven Nor is it
admitted" they say, that traffic in intoxicating
liquors constitutes at the present time menace to
sthe territory .~@. "~
The whole letter, the whole move Of the saloon
men, is an eleventIhour attempt to make patriotic
capital out of the situation and thus prevent the
closing Of the bars outright. Commanding General
Strong, Major Lincoln and other army men, have
declared unequiyoealy in favor of the closing Of all
saloons. They realize, just a great many civilians
realize that such halfway measures shutting the
bars at will not answer i'm the situation now con.
fronting this territory. III
Business of all kinds in Hawaii must realize this
the United States is at war and govern itself ac-
cordingly. Already, because of military exigeney,
the entire private wireless service of the territory
has been taken over BY the government. At one
stroke three wireless companies were wiped out of
existence and the navy took entire and absolute
charge
Because we are at war Hawaii must endure I'M
precedented changes, interruptions, nconyeniences
Those things which are dangerous must 60. There
is no alternative.
The booze business is not only dangerous, but il
is not essential to Hawaii In peace times It is the
greediest most rapacous business in the territory
1T prospers on the ruin of men and women. II oper
ates with bold disregard for public sentiment
public sentiment outraged, rises up and imposes
restrictions.
In war-times 1T is doubly dangerous and far less
excusable az an indulgence 1t should be wiped out
The liquor dealers can claim no immunity Notice
has been served on thefor Ave years past that they
should get out ofytheir business because that bust
ness would he abolished "a
Several methods are proposed to close the saloons
The liquor board may net wish to act but the iegis
lature can arm the board with additional power
and the Legislature can pass resolution urging
Congress to make Hawaii dry without further da-
lay h
Hawaii is in no situation to palter, to twist
around legal technicalities, in handling the booze
business Nor are those who know exactly what
the emergency is, in any mood to be hampered by
the tactics of the liquor dealers