Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-05-04
T.aNpERISG WITH THE PEOPLES FOOD

T.sMPERING WITH THE PEOPLES FOOD.
Few acts of the liquor interests in Honolulu in
the last lew years show up badly ineNcnsabe as
heir affemptiu the closing hours Of the Legislature
10 fanpeI Nth the food control bill.
That bill was emergency measure. drafted. in
lfrodnceds and put through to safeguard Hawaii's
food siitt,ly in wartime II was drawn mp pro
Z lection for the 235.0G0 people in Hawaii.
BecRnsp tiie bill gave power to the food commits
se0h 10 Forbid the Of rice grain for intoxcat-
ing aiqnor the brewery interests started an
stlsff1 hslour lobby. They wanted the bill amend
"a ~ suit their convenience and their business.
The storm that quickly came mp the horizon
drove the brewery labbyists back to One
senaior declared that unless the brewery people
kept hands of, he would take the floor and expose
the entire maneuver. using names. The attorney
for The brewery people finally advised his clients L"
drop the proposed amendment, any amendment.
and III was wise counsel The liquor lobby would
have been beaten anyway. ~
Only a few weeks ago the saIoonmen of Homo
lun were foIubly protesting their patriotism.
That was when public opinion forced them to make a
move to curfaif their hours OF selling The brewery
lobby was Sufficient to show the kind of patriotism
bred By booze. 80 .s5s,.z s..-. :%S =
I'd in California there has been another eonsp
cuous incident of the rapacit and shorsightedness
81 The liquor men The Argonaut tells The story
well In vigorous editorial, referring to the kill
ing of the Rominger bill IN the state legislature
ne bib would have wiped ont the saloon hut pre-.
served the vineyard interests The Argonaut says ::
ii may be remembered that when the Fsominger bin
first encountered rough weather In the senate twas
remarked in these columns 9TH instantl that the de-
feat OF this Discriminating and entirely reasonable pro-
posa would be the surest way to bring about absolute
prohibition. Well; the trick has been turned. The
pocal forces subject to the saloon interest were
s ase s sGIss 3 g
victory has been won But II is the kind q victory
that spells ultimate defeat There has been exhibited
Interest control Of the1egisature there
anybody whose powers Of observation and thinking
stupetied ~ selfnteres who not scewat this
victory mesnsf Can there be anybody outside the
hteotted few above described who fails tosnderstand
that when the issue Of prohibition shall next be put
before the people II win win hands down. All that
needed bring into line behind prohibition the
many thousands whose neutrality lost the fight last
year Was demonstration Of the political power OF the
saloon interest This by its famous victory has
dug Its own grave and prepared its nscoffins and
now = Z practically. certain 70 drag down ne vine
cast to the winds and the explanation lies in the
stupidity and folly behind the proceedings at sacra
circumstance illustrating the certain effect of the
defeat Of the Romnger bin Is the attitude Of the
spect the moral intentions of that newspaper to appre
cate its practical Judgment Nobody better the
tendencies OF the public mind than this adroit trim
And of one thing the public may be assured.
namely that before the Examiner takes up cause"
that cause IN already won Now In view Of the defeat
Of the Rominger bill the Examiner comes out strong
for prohibition; and this being interpreted means that
in the judgment or the controlling mind OF the-x-
aminer prohibition Is neYitable It Is inevitable be-
Doblie In resentment against the iouor in.
terest win surely vote in overwhelming numbers to
penaze and destroy II root and branch-in so FAR
as 4 may be done BY legal snactusnt
Ultimately the unsuccessful eleventh hour lobby
ID the Hawaiian legislature will help TO make Ha.
wall dry