The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-12-16
BOOZE is TO BLAME.

For the death of H. T. White, member of the engine crew of
Eagle Boat So and for the trouble in which Louis Lake finds him
self illicit liquor is primarily and chiefly responsible. The question
arises what the Maui community is going to do about it, whether
or no it will continue to tolerate and to acquiesce in the conditions
which produced the tragedy at Kafnlui. The sentiment of Mauis
chizenry will determine the question.
For months past there have been complaints that violations of
the prohibition law were growing in frequency and disregard of the
provisions relating to Its sale and transportation more openly dis
played. Some citizens ceased to go to certain dances asserting
that there was so much liquor consumed in cars outside the places
of holding the dances that the participants showed the effects on
the dancing floor. Later there was a dance in Waiuku at which
it was reported a number of boys under 16 years of age were badly
inebriated. A few months since there was a highly disordery oc-
curence at the corner of Main and Market streets in which more
than a score of young men were involved. This indicates that the
patronage OF illicit liquor dealers extends into and through various
grades of Maui social life and is confined to none in particular.
Maui has been advertised rather extensively through the Islands
as being the home of production of ''con whisky and the thirsty
visitor Immediately seeks a source of supply. As a matter of fact
there is very little com whisky that reaches the general public and
the bulk of the stuff sold for it is colored okolehao. Plantations.
have had to fence molasses tanks so that illicit booze manufacturers
could not get the moasses there for illicit booze making or for the
colorlng and doetorng OF the stuff. That is what is most commonly
consumed though it is reported that in addition to the limited amount
of corn whisky there are importations of bottled stuff 1t is the
fact that Maui is reported to be % "wet" that attracts more atten-
ton to common violations of the law here which are possibly no
more frequent than in any of the other islands. However, it is re-
ported that liquor can readily be secured at no less than six places
within five minutes walk of the corner of Main and Market streets.
There is no federal law which makes it an ofense to drink
liquor but the person who purchases it is abetting in the ofense of
selling de facto even if not de jure. 1t is the fact that so large a
proportion Of Maui ctizenry thus encourages law breaking that
makes such drinking parties as that of last Saturday night nothing
exceptional or unusual. Sounds of similar revelry can be heard
almost any week end.
1t is often said that it is the sworn duty of county officers to
enforce the prohibition law and the answer is that it is no more
their duty than of any private citizen. Their oath of office is no
stronger than the plain duty of the average citizen. They are not
required to make arrests, if they do make them they have to turn
offenders over to federal authorities to be tried in the federal courts
and as witnesses for the prosecution have to pay from their own
pockets excess of expenses to, at and from Honolulu over witness
fees.
This paper believes that education is more productive of moral
iy than is legislation and the example of those who stand generally
for law enforcement even when not enthusiastic for prohibition law
enforcement would be an important educational influence upon those
of less education and social culture.
The outstanding fact is that Maui sentiment has not been for
strict enforcement of and obedience to the prohibition law but
rather a tacit when not IN open acquiescence to its open violation. AS
said, it may be no different here than elsewhere but there has been a
concrete example Of disastrous results.