Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-31
Moving Toward Prohibition

Washington states experience with prohlDltlon,
as summarized yesterday by Mr.. George Mex. Nc
Clean in his talk at the Commercial Club, has
special interest for Hawaii.
The prohibition issue is live issue here, and
there are increasing signs that Hawaii IS getting
ready for finish fight with intoxicating liquor.
There are also increasing signs that plebiscite
election in the territory would reverse the decision
of 1910. when prohibition was defeated.
The Star Bulletins Washington correspondent in
a letter dated the middle of this month points out
that at the coming session of Congress the house
Democrats will be free TO take up liquor legislation,
which they not in the session just closed, owing
to house organization agreement.
Prohibition for Hawaii may come either in the
course of progress on a constitutional amendment
or by special enactment. That bill to make Ha-
wai dry" will be pressed at the coming session is
virtually certain, and simultaneously the fight will
be waged TO secure the passage OF constitutional
amendment, which thereafter must be ratified by
threefourths of the states.
1t is clear that prohibition for this territory will
be very much to the fore in the next few months.
Mr.. Mcclellan did not exaggerate one whit in
saying that there is absolutely chance that the
state of Washington will retUn to the wet"
regime. Nor did he exaggerate in declaring that
the businessman and the small firm would fight the
VETS lOOIn anu nail SnOulQ SUCH d NC pro'
posed
Washington state is not merely passively agree.
ing to prohibition. 1t is actively in favor Of the
"dry' regime. Seattle "wettest' city on the coast
only a few years ago, is prospecting directly as a
tangible result of moving into the "dry" column.
The Seattle businessmen, many of whom viewed the
approach of prohibition with fear and trembling,
are now enthusiastically in favor of 1t.
The large numbering, mining, fishing and other
interests of the state similarly enthusiastic The
great shipbuilding companies, whose prosperity and
war profits depend on the speed with which they
can fill imperative government contracts, know that
they can get much more and much better work out
of their thousands of workmen when Puget Sound
is ssdryn than when it is swet."
Business large and small in the state fayors pro-
hibition. The economic argument has gone hand in
hand with the moral argument and where the latter
has not convinced, the former has been conclusive.
Hawaii could probably get an election on prohi.
bition by vigorous representation in Congress this
winter backed by aggressive public sentiment in the
territory OF course the home politicians to whose
interest it is to staye of prohibition would try to
befog the issue, but they and their efforts could be
smoked out.
And If the issue were put to the test of vote in
the territory, the right sort of livewire campaign
by the "dryv forces would nail old King Boose's
hide to the fence and put Hawaii in the "allwhite
column.
effects of prohibition moral and economic, would
convince the doubters, as the doubters of Washing
ton state were convinced.