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THE MAUI NEWS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1916.
THE MAUI NEWS
Entered at the Tost Ofllce at Wailuku, Maul, Hawaii, as second-class matter.
A Republican Paper Published in the Interest of the People
Issued Every Friday.
MAUI PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED,
Proprietors and Publishers
Subscription Rates, $2.50 per Year in Advance.
WILL J. COOPER,
EDITOR AND MANAGER
FRIDAY
JANUARY 7, 1916.
HAWAII AND THE LIQUOR PROBLEM.
Under the caption "Hawaii should Solve Its Own Liquor Puz
zle" which caption he probably isn't responsible for, Dr. John Y.
Wadman, superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of Hawaii, in a
recent newspaper article indicates very clearly that this is just what
he and his co-workers against the licjuor traffic do not want. On the
contrary they believe that Congress should legislate booze out of this
territory, and indications are quite plain that a strong effort will be
made towards this end during the present session .
There is excellent reason to believe that the time is not very far
distant when the United States will be a saloonless nation. State after
state is going into the dry column. Nineteen are already completely
dry, and there is scarcely a commonwealth in the country which has not,
under local option, a considerable portion of its territory from which
liquor is barred. It seems most likely that very soon one or both of the
great political parties will adopt a prohibition plank in its platform,
and then the matter will be definitely a national issue, and then the
end of King Booze's reign may be considered in sight.
Of course when this time comes, Hawaii will be included; but
until that day, any attempt to force upon this territory a restriction
that cannot be forced upon any state, is wrong and contrary to the
principles of American government. Reformers of all kinds, in their
zeal, are generally willing to invoke the old jesuitical axiom that the
end justifies the means, and to make use of methods that they them
selves would be the first to hold indefensible. The basic idea on which
this nation was founded, is that its people should govern themselves.
In spite of this underlying principle, it is clear that the founders of
the republic themselves were not sure of their ground, but believed
some check on the "irresponsible masses" to be necessary; as witness
the system of electors in the election of the president, which now means
nothing. But this notion that the people cannot be trusted to manage
their own affairs still persists; and while we find leading anti-saloon
men advocating the privileges of statehood for Hawaii, we find these
same advocates working more or less openly to have congress enact
siecial laws for the territory on the grounds that our ieople are not
to be trusted to properly handle their own affairs when it comes to the
liquor question.
The United States has become what it has because the responsibi
lity in every line has been placed upon the people themselves. They
have gained strength through effort on their own part, and the progress
against the use ot intoxicants in our country is one of the best ex
amples of the success of the theory. That Hawaii cannot of her own
initiative eliminate the saloon evil, is a libel. Hawaii has made good
in other directions in equal measure with any of the states. Moreover
Hawaii has in the past placed the ban on booze. She can do so again,
and is making steady progress in that direction. Unless we are will
ing to confess that we are unfit for self government in other directions,
we have no right to call upon congress to legislate for us in the liquor
matter. 1 he idea 'is not right, and should be resisted.
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HOW TO PROTECT THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
Editor Maui News: In last week's issue of the MAUI NEWS,
you refer, editorially, to the road work above Paia, and say that rumor
has it that it is a piece of poor work, reflecting no credit on our County
Engineer.
As one interested in good roads, and also as one jealous for the
good name of our Board of Supervisors, may I say- that it is reported
that the particular piece of road work to which you refer was done
under the immediate direction and supervision of the chairman of the
Board of Suiervisors, and that the County Engineer is in no way
personally, responsible for it. If this is true, just why it should be
true, would be well for the public to know, and, certainly, if it is true
the blame for the poorness of the wrork, if it be poor work, should not
rest on the shoulders of the county engineer.
Yours for efficiency,
PRO BONO PUBLICO
We are certainly glad to be put right on this matter and to know
that the county engineer is not responsible for a job that he should
be responsible for. Of course the chairman of the board, who is not
a technical expert in engineering, and who besides has many other
tnings to do, cannot be held responsible either, even if he be willing to
assume the responsibility. Consequently no resonsible jerson is re
sponsible. We would suggest, however, in order tnat the engineer s
reputation may be protected in future instances of this kind, that the
jobs in question be suitably placarded.
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The Advertiser, of Honolulu says that the administration is re
sponsible for the deaths of Americans on board vessels toriedoed by
German or Austrian submarines. Such an assertion is as unwarranted
as it is untrue. President Wilson has the confidence and backing of
the American people in the course he has taken in these matters. About
the only other alternative that might be taken would be to plunge into
the general carnival of slaughter going on in Euproi:, and America
is not ready for that. Besides such an alternative is not in the pro
vince of the President, lhere is a good deal of loose talk these day
that fortunately is not likely to do much harm, and certainly can do no
good.
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Dr. Durney's idea of a school for the children patients of the
Kula Sanitarium, as well as for other children of the district who
- vould benefit by attending school in a clean and sanitary school room
and by receiving a hot, nutritious meal at mid-day, is one that should
become a reality at once. There are already 8 children in the sanitarium
who have no school facilities, and there are 20 or 30 in the nemhbor
hood who should have some special attention, such as he proposes
1 he county has the money for such a school on hand right now. It
couldn't spend a part of it in a better way.
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1 Honolulu is setting an excellent example these days of how county
f governments should not be handled, lhe plan of creating as many
jobs as ix)ssible and of splitting up the authority m proportion, is the
thing that all American communities are getting away from as fas
as possible. It has been tested for a century and it doesn t work.
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record of not a single drunk at the New Year's races while
ame time there was no restriction on the sale of liquor, should
uch significance. People of Hawaii, as elsewhere, are simply
out ot the habit of druiking as they used to drink. As a Mau
i juor dealer puts it the liquor business is dying a natural death.
Hunan
" Between the national guard ball and the races and frontier sport
celfbration, Maui had a New Year's celebration such as she has neve
had before. To the officers of the Third Regiment, and to Messrs
McPhee and Locey, the public owes a strong debt of appreciation.
By Wireless By Mail
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KAHULUI RAILROAD CD'S
Merchandise Department
Telephone No. 1662 Kaliulni, Maui, T. H.
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