The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-08-01
UNPLEASANT BUT TRUE

The allegations made by Iorrin Andrews and Chester Doyle, in
interviews in the coast papers, as to the drunkenness prevalent in TINS
Territory, appears to have touched a sore spot in the hides OF both
our daily papers. Both individuals are denounced in all the moods
and lenses for daring to besmirch the fair name Of these islands, and
for telling what we all know to be approximately the truth as to this
particular matter. The morning paper does not mnce words in its
Characterization of Andrews as either a liar or blinded by prejudice
you pays your money and you takes your choce) while the evening
paper goes its morning relative one better and mildly suggests that
Andrews be ostracized. In both these reckless editorial ebulitions of
denunciation we have nothing but abuse, with not the slightest attempt
to disprove the following statements attributed to Lorrm Andrews;
Hundreds of Hawaiians, japanese, Koreans and even whites are
becoming totally blind from drinking okoehao. Thousands OF gallons
of it are distilled each month, and though the federal official make
raid after raid, it has had little effect. There is more drunkenness
or entertainment in Honolulu 50 per cent of the people attend under
the influence of liquor. During the last legislature many OF the
of the chief occupations of the islands: Prohibition has lost thou
sands of dollars to the sugar plantation owners. Employees who
to report for work Monday, but after prohibition set in, the okolehao
drinkers seldom appear before Wednesday of each week"
in the columns of both daily papers, wherein scarcely a day passes
that one does not find accounts of the discovery of okolehao stills or
their intense activity indicate a strong demand for the stuff and evld-
ence that large quantities of okolehao are being consumed by the labor
Recently Mr.. Kennedy, of the Inter-lsland, complained that his steam
ers were being put out of commission because of the drinking of oko-
iehao by the various crews of the steamers, and he cited as an in
stance that the Mikahala was held up at Hlo for several days be-
cause her crew was unable to work, through drunkenness, thereby
holding up a large freighter waiting to take on sugar.
We have the authority of Judge Iightfoot,. of the district court,
for the statement that there is more drunkenness in the city right now,
and more cases coming to the court as the result OF drunkenness than
was the case when Honolulu was a wide open town. The increased
drinking of okoehao is proving the means of sending many people to
All these facts, OF course, do not furnish any good argument
against prohibition, but they do furnish strong reasons why the Fed
eraI authorities should take the situation in hand, and provide the men
and the means to put an end to the manufacture of okolehao..
In this connection it might Be well to draw attention to the fact
that practically all the okolehao made IN these islands is produced by
Japanese, and that okoehao can be bought openly in practically every
Japanese taxi stand in the city. The proper thing to do with all Jap
anese thus caught violating our American laws would be to deport
them to japan, where they could exercise their ingenuity by making
all the okolehao they desired.
The facts in this matter should be faced fairly and squarely. No
good can come from unwarranted denunciation and abuse-New
Freedom,