The Maui news. [volume], January 21, 1916, Page 2, Image 2

About The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current

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THE MAUI NEWS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1916.
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THE MAUI NEWS
Entered at the Tost Office at Wailuku, Maui, 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 ter Year in Advance.
WILL J. COOPER,
EDITOR AND MANAGER
FRIDAY
JANUARY 21. 191'.
A.X APOLOGY
If this issue of the MAUI XFAVS falls short in appcaram c. or in
quality, vc trust our readers will hear with us, remembering that this
has heen a rather strenuous week in W ailuku. In fact wc feel rather
elated that we have heen able to appear at all. In common with most
other enterprises we have had our troubles, not the least of which was
that we were without light or owcr for operating linotype or presses,
until yesterday afternoon. And in common with all Maui we sincerely
hope that such another week will not soon occur again.
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THE GOVERNOR'S CONSCRIPTION THREAT.
The preparedness craze has certainly about reached the
limit when the price of a man's job depends upon whether
or not he belongs to the militia. Rut that is just what the
letter of Governor Pinkham, to heads of territorial depart-
partments, amounts to. It specifically directs that prefer
enee be given to members of the national guard, in tilling
vacancies and there is more than a hint to present em
ployes in the sentence "Employes are urged to at once
perform their duty by enlisting."
What are we coming to anyway, that a governor
should dare to utter such a manifesto? What shall we call
it conscription?' Conscription means "to enroll, by com
pulsion, for military service." What else is this than com
pulsion through threat of one's means of making a living?
If Governor Pinkham has made any false moves since Tie
took his ofiice, this is certainly the worst; and unless we are
mistaken will bo one of the strongest weapons against him
in the hands of his enemies.
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FUXISHMEXT AS A DETERRENT OF CRIME.
The territorial grand jury in its report of conditions in the terri
tory. dwells at some length on what it terms an "excess of leniency'
shown hy courts and executive in dealing with those convicted of
crime. It declares that punishments should he such as to deter others
from committing crime. That those who violate the law should suffer
adequate punishment, is no doubt right. That this punishment should
Le measured with a view to preventing others committing like ottenses
is open to serious question. That juries will not convict indiscrimin
ately when iron-clad laws demand what is believed to be punishment
in excess of what the crime merits; and that executive clemency is
continually being granted, is acknowledgment that laws cannot be
made to lit crimes. iSo two cases are exactly alike, livery one lias its
special chain of circumstances that mitigate or intensify its seriousness
as far as the culprit is concerned. It is in recognition of this fact that
latitude is given to courts in imposing sentence, and that the pardoning
power is placed in the hands of the executive. And this is as it should
be. Punishment is not vengeance. It presumes the possibility of re
form, and what may effect a cure in one case, may be wholly excessive
or inadequate for other onendcrs. It is not easy to make these dis
tinctions, but it is what our courts are for to do the best they can
in each case at it arises.
There was a time in England when to steal so small a thing as a
loaf of bread, to ward off starvation, was a capital offense. And to
impress others who might be tempted, gibbets with their ghastly bur
dens, .stood at almost every cross-roads. Yet crime was not eradicated
On the same principle, until recent years it was common in most
states to make a public demonstration of an execution. A hanging was
the occasion for a public holiday. Men, women and children, for
miles around gathered by thousands around a gallows erected in the
open air, in order to see a fellow human being hurled into eternity
The idea for this was that the example would prevent others from
committing crime. But murders still continued, and a more enlightened
public sentiment now prevents such horrible siectacles except in ios
sibly a few places. Whether recognized or not, the conviction has become
fixed that such executions did more to brutalize a community than
to instill into it the fear of punishment. The mother who controls her
young hopeful through threats of the "bogy-man" or police, is not the
one who usually gives to society the highest type of useful citizen
nor is the community that attempts to prevent crime through the rigors
of its punishment mlhcted upon criminals, the one that has the least
crime to punish.
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In connection with the calling off of the lecture course planned
I))' the principal of the Wailuku Public School, the trouble appears to
be that the department of public instruction was not hrst consulted in
the matter. In fact the department now lets it he known that it con
siders the plan an excellent one, and suggests that the lectures may be
given outside of the regular school hours on Friday afternoons. Inas
much as the time of teachers and pupils is their own after school hours
r.nu as the legislature has given the public the free use of school house
for public meetings, the suggestion loses a good deal of its weight. In
fact we understand that if the assembly room of the school had been
provided with lights, the lectures would probably have been held in the
evening. As it was, but one hour of school time, twice each month
would have been used. We are frank to say that we believe the at
titiule of the department has been a mistaken one in this instance
I'ut because we believe that the idea of bringing pupils and public into
closer touch a most excellent one, we hope that the plan will not be
drop ed.
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Unless there are serious objections not apparent to the average
observer, it would seem that the Inter-Island company might easily earn
the sincere appreciation of the Maui public by routing the steamer
Mauna Kea via Kahului, in times of kona weather when landings are
impossible at Eahaina or other south coast ports. The distance by
the north shore would not appreciably increase the sailing distance
bteween Honolulu and Ililo, and besides would give the vessel the
advantage of a lee shore run. Also the Maui business should be a
material consideration of the company. It has been a week now since
the Mauna Kea has stopped at Maui at all, and with the road to I.a
haina impassable the main part of the island would have benefitted
nothing if she had. A suggestion in this connection through the cham
ber of commerce might be all that is necessary to get regular mail and
passenger service for Maui regardless of weather conditions.
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Contractor Foss says he can build a concrete road in the Haiku
homesteads for the amount which is to be spent for macadam in that
district. The idea is worth considering.
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KAHULUI RAILROAD CO'S
erchandise Department
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By Wireless By Mail
By Telephone
or
By Personal Call
No Matter How Vou Order
Business
ave Our
Your
Will H
romot
Attention
Telephone No. 1062 Kahului, Maui, T. 11.
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