The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-02-08
Prohibitiol,1, In SIGHT


time prohibition for Hawaii and to continu,
that prohibition after the war with the consen
Of the majority of the voters OF the Territory will
IN all probability pass, Unless a very determined
opposition to it is shown by Delegate Kuhio
Should the Delegate be prevailed upon to op
pose this measure, he will with that act proclaim
his insineerity. on the prohibition question
He cannot object consistently to immediate war
time prohibition. No patriot can so object to such
for Hawaii SO long we at war and while
this is one Of the main garrison towns of the
Nation. h. .s., .,...'.
Tits now elementary that booze in any quantity
miniInizes efficiency, and inefficiency in the army
today means death for individuals and dishonor
for the Flag. Prohibition rules in the army, but
il cannot be thoroughly enforced so long as one
portion of the residents may buy and drink at
will and SO long there are civilian sneaks to sell
70 men in uniform and service disloyalists willing
10 be tempted
Following the termination of the war the "home
rule objection comes into play. 1t is provided
for in the BILL however, which permits the major
:ty Of voters to decide for themselves whether or
not prohibition' shall continue. A p1ebiscite may
be takengat any time after 1920 and up to 1925,
whenever twenty percent of the registered voters
so petition ~n,.,., ..A.. H.
That provision is eminent1y fair 1t is fair to
the opponents Of prohibition, as it should not be
iifcult Tor them to secure such petition if there
be any considerable sentiment in the Islands for
return to the booze basis II is fair to the pro-
hibitionists, inasmach as it will give prohibition
two years trial at least by which time prohibi-
zion should have demonstrated its worth and at
'he end of which time there will not be an organ
ized going booze business to become the center
OF campaign OF debauchery, Misrepresentation
and Doodle, all of which now go with the business.
When the plebiscte is taken, if it should be
called for at all, which we ready to doubt, it
will be taken soberly and the result will be the
premeditated decision of the people, voting with
open eyes. F."
In the text of the bill as it has reached Hawaii,
and as Il was in all probability introduced into the
United States senate yesterday, we detect only
one flaw OF consequence That is the provision
which delegates to the territorial legislature the
Enactment of regulations under which the impor-
tation and use Of ntoxcants for mechanical scien-
fife, sacramento and medicinal purposes will be
permitted.
While we have faith in Our legislature we be-
lieve it would be wise were congress to incor-
porate these rules in their own bill and not leave
It to us. This is federal prohibition and every
thing connected with it should be federal not ter
ritoriaf p
mechanical scientific" and medicinal" are
very general classfcations and susceptible of any
amount.o of abuse and misinterpretation We be-
leve that the liquor interests of Hawaii will grasp
every opportunity offered through this delegation
Of power to the legislature to seek rules and regu-
lation that will nullify to the very limit of pos
sibility the bone dry features of the federal act
This will be the last hope of the hooze ring and it
will be worked to the verge of desperation depend
upon that. o..
In our opirion, local prohibitonists should cable
The hackers of this bill and urge it's amendment
70 include every phase of the use of intoxicants
in Hawaii Let the act be bone dry in fact we'll
as in name, leaving no loophole whereby the plain
intent of the legislation may be married in any
particular. If prohibition is to be put trial. let
II be an absolutely fair and square trial.
The Advertiser is heartily in favor of this act
We feel confident that if prohibition be forced
upon us for two years, with strict federal enforce
ment, we will never go back to booze. The pass
ing ofsthiss law will mean much to Hawaii and
will bring hope for survival 70. the citizens of
Hawaiian blood.
--S%S-