The Hawaiian Gazette

HARVEY SLATED
TO OPPOSE
KUHIO

Liquor Interests Want Senator to
Be Candidate for the
Delegateship.

OFFER MADE BY THE DEALERS

Fear of Anti-Saloon Legislation
Causes Wholesalers to Take
Action.

If the plans of the executive committee of the Wholesale Liquor Dealers' Association do not go astray Hawaii will be represented in the next congress by a delegate bound hand and soul to the liquor interests. Frank Harvey is the man picked out by the liquor men, and he has already announced the terms on which he will enter the running.

On Monday the executive committee of the Wholesale Liquor Dealers' Association held a meeting and decided upon Harvey as the man best calculated to contest Kuhio's re-election successfully, and immediately a proposition was made to the territorial senator. The liquor men expressed their willingness to put up the money needed to cover the expenses of his campaign if he would agree to run. Harvey took the matter under consideration, and replied that he will run, provided the liquor men furnish enough money to enable him to make a tour of the Islands and bring the Home Rule party into camp.

The liquor men realize that they are facing a crisis, and they are determined to fight to the last ditch. Should the coming plebiscite show the people of Hawaii to be in favor of prohibition, the liquor men believe that they can still prevent the passage of a prohibition bill by the next legislature. On the other hand, they realize that the defeat of prohibition in the legislature would not put a stop to the agitation, particularly should the plebiscite favor the abolition of the liquor traffic.

It is pretty generally conceded that no matter what the result of the plebiscite may be, the liquor question will be reopened in congress, provided that the next legislature does not see fit to enact a strict prohibition law.

It is generally understood that Kuhio has joined the prohibition forces and that should the question be brought before congress again he will be found siding with the prohibitionists. That the delegate would have great influence with the federal lawmakers is conceded and the liquor men are anxious to have some one at Washington who will do their bidding.

Dubious Concerning Link.

Just what stand Link McCandless would take were he to succeed Kuhio the liquor men do not feel inclined to say, and withal there is a strong feeling that McCandless could not make a telling fight against Kuhio. Harvey, on the other hand, has a strong following, and is conceded to be one of the strongest of the Hawaiian politicians. The liquor men feel that he could make a strong fight against Kuhio and that he would stand at least a reasonable show of being elected.

Harvey himself is understood to be confident of his ability to defeat Kuhio at the polls if sufficient funds be available to carry on a campaign among the Home Rulers. He believes that he can draw many former Home Rulers out of the Republican ranks and that with the combined support of the Democratic and Home Rule parties he can wage a campaign which will result in victory.

The matter has been allowed to rest temporarily owing to the absence of Bartlett, who is recognized as the high chief of the liquor interests. When he gets back into the harness a final agreement with Harvey will probably be reached.

Harvey is a liquor man himself and it is believed that he could be counted on to fight any prohibition measure that may come before congress. The liquor interests have but little fear regarding their ability to block any prohibition legislation in the territorial legislature and they believe that with Frank Harvey serving as delegate to congress they could make a telling fight at Washington.