Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-07
w. c.. T. u. COLUMN.
The Prohibition Farce in Maine.
BY Rev. J. NJ. Wyman.

This is the subject of series of articles
published by the Boston Herald. They
are written up by IA correspondent whose
tastes and sympathies can be easily
guessed. He captures his host of readers
at the start and will doubtless carry them
with him to the end; for he writes in
racy, careless, spirited fashion, which
takes with the crowd. He claims to have
spent month in his investigation, and
| if his stories are true he is fortunate to
get back from our State where rum is said
to rule, to his own favored state of license
without delirum tremens. He has made
tour through the whole State, a delight
full vacation trip, by the way, and pro
poses now to explain exactly how the
LIQUOR interests stand in our cities and
larger towns.
Two or three facts at this point will
heightcn our interest in these articles, viz:
/. Tho Herald has been engaged for
some years in fighting against the prin-
ciple of prohibition, and we admit it has
been trusty champion. 1t has the adj
vantage of long experience. We remcm-
Der well the fights of other days.
The Herald knows well what advertise
mcnto pay and what kind of matter will
bring the coppers.
,. 1t is significant that these articles
should appear just at the opening of our
State Legislature when q wealthy repre-
sentative had published his intention to
introduce resolve, at his earliest oppor
tunity, for the resubmission of the pro
hibitory amendment to the people.
A word to the wise is sufficient. 1t is
well for the friends of our time honorcd
Maine law to be opening their eyes. We
may not have said all we ought to our
representatives on this subject
3. A third fact is the unblushing ad
vocacy of high license by the saloon.
The saloon claims that it is profitable to
pay $1,000 for the privilege of selling
liquor. We may be sure it would not
favor such measure unless there was
profit in it. 1t is foreign from our pur-
pose to go into an exhaustive argument
on this subject, but we may rest assured
that there arc solid grounds upon which
to rest the case. 1t is also noticeable how
the liquor fraternity has massed its forces
en- one state after another when n contest
of this kind was promised. They are
evidently looking with eager eyes to the
Pine Tree State. How gladly they would
nail that old, stubborn Maine law.
l am reminded however, of an expert
cnce told me in childhood. A foolish
fellow was informed that fcrocious bull
was coming. He forthwith drew his rusty
lack knife and turning with swagger,
said: 'I-I-I shall face him. y We,
too. may he called foolish, but we shall
successfully face the painting hierarchy
with horns and coven feet. The thing
we fail to understand is how Boston
paper can come down here and declare
that we are selling more liquor without
n license than they arc with, and then
turn its guns on our amendment urge
the adoption of license, Often in our
haste we forget to be consistent.
We submit that it will not be inappro-
nriatc to consider the above facts IN
weighing the evidence which our friend
volunteers O. to give. But notice the
nature of the evidence. AT one city he
stops as long as a train stops, and then
roes back to his editorial sanctum to give
the facts. At another city, after thorough
investigation, he is summoned before the
courts to state facts and not one single
fart of usc as evidence could be stated.
orr discoverer was obliged to say that his
l-now,cdoe was based upon hearsay.
Now any one can guess that man VINO
hos , rod face or drives fast horse drinks.
Rut wc submit that Imagination or guess
,vor,, does not form sufficient basis FOR
tbe glaring. and misleading headlines
which appear from day to day in the Her
aid on this subject
Irbe attempt is made at this opportune
moment to disparage the prohipitor!
| law; to work up sentiment against it'aiiu
If possible to overthrow it. NOW, the eNi-
dence of old substantial, rcHaple cl9lzens
may be worth as much in the case rs the
gnesses of a prejudiced party VINO desires
to ms1xe out case in his own interests
We do not mean to deny that liquor Is
se,a defontlv. transported Illegally, ana
sr,uegled about in IA variety OF ways
Nv sane man admits this. No temper
80 fanatic. so called, OF the most pro
nounced type, has ever attempted TO deny
| this. a ,,o,,,on of
As long as there are men ana women Oh
,,,orals among us. who have an APP
,etite for strong drink, ana thefe Is 'hc
ppossibility all about our borders OF secur
;,r II even the most stringent III" VIII
~, lie unable 10 prevent absolutely Its use
No law against theft,or Saboath pfesih
mo ~, manslaughtcr succeeds. or WIZ
over succeed in preventing CRIME. Shaii
,ve therefore. license men Sto commit
thoft or to kill, ,jn order that the S'a'e
nav the more easily protect ltseh!
r. WY he that the violations OF our
,nore numerous than we think.
=. may be that the Hcralds guesses are
~. ax,ooerated. What them
lio nay,sc tbcrc arc those in our midst
Iii sccnrc their liquor, shall we