Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-03
gAAsf r.
Practical Results Of Prohibition.

casion like the present to consider prac-
tically the results of prohibition. ]
nave no hesitation in saying that pro-
hibition does prohibit in a degree pro-
portionate to the extent of it's honest
and judicious enforcement, and has
with lax enforcement in the cities
largely diminished pauperism, crimes
and their attendant evils. The bene-
ficent results are manifest in many
homes made happy, and the wealth
and prosperity of the citizens general
ly. Maine, with it's cold climate, long
hard winters and disadvantages COM
pared with many other states, by the
industry of its Inhabitants living under
prohibition has prospered to a degree
no other state has done with free rum
or license.
Maine had, November Z, 1896, to the
credit of 163,115 depositors in its fifty
two savings banks, eighteen trust COM
panies and thirty-four loan and build
ing associations. on deposit $40, 459, $50
.26, being 1864 to each inhabitant and
one depositor to every four inhabitants,
a gain of s1,9S2. 359.74 for the year end
ing November Z; assets of national
banks in Maine sS6,941, 56112, making
the entire banking capital of the state
$107, 401, 147.3S. Illinois, more centrally To-
Gated, with its superior advantages of
soil and climate, with it's free rum, or
what is worse, having a population of
more than 100000, has only deposit
of about s7S,000,000, being about $40 per
capita. The more rum the less money.
Ohio, with equal or greater advantages
than the latter state, makes about the
same financial. pauper and criminal
showing, not having the saving in
fiuence of prohibition.
No honest, intelligent person will un-
dertake to assert that it is as consist
ent to regulate as to prohibit a crime
of at least three-fourths of all the
crimes and misery in the land,
1t is my purpose. during the seven
minutes allotted me, to call attention
to some statements and records tend
ing to show the gratifying results of
prohibition. t-
] remark, first, that the most con-
vincing evidence that prohibition does
prohibit is the fact of the persistent.
united, continuous, expensive opposi-
ton of the liquor interest to prohibit
tory enactments or enforcement. Evil
dence against the witness own interest
is to be allowed it's full weight. Mat
tiers are determined by the weight of
testimony, not by the number of wit
nesses.
Second, invite your attention to the
voluntary declaration of individuals as
to the effects of prohibition. Our dis
tinguished fellow citizen whom we
honor on this occasion has for half a
century declared openly, defying sue
cessful contradiction, that prohibition
does prohibit, and that prohibition di-
minishes crime, pauperism, misery and
degradation. 1t is not in the power OF
any living man to convince any en-
lightened, honest person that the
declaration is not true. The fact re-
mains the same.
After thirty years of prohibition in
Maine, a verdict of the people, the re-
suit of experience and observat1on,set-
tied the question as to the efficiency
and ability Of prohibition by an in
telligent ballot resulting in a majority
for constitutional prohibition of 1892
votes. 2s,311 out of the entire vote be-
ing opposed. This verdict is entitled
to much weight as evidence in favor OF
the law. The law is now the law of the
people, enacted by their legislators and
tlater adopted by constitutional amend
ment, and it is to be sincerely regretted
that the people have not the courage OF
their convictions to an extent sufficient
to see it reasonably enforced in all the
~, fI,o,
| the state.
During 1886 prohibition was in force
/ in Maine, and during that time sixty
| five persons were committed to the
States prison, twenty-nine in 1855 and
thirty-six in 1856. In 1878 the Stats
was under license and one hundred
and twenty-one were committed, fifty
! two in 1857 and sixty-nine in 1858. In
/ 1859 and 1860 the prohibitory law was in
| force and forty-eight were committed
lin 1859 and forty-one in 1860 The num-
| Der of persons committed to Jail in
Portland. excluding those for viola
| ton of liquor law, for nine months prior
| to prohibition was 279; for the same
1 time under prohibition, 63, decreass
tof PIG. The number committed tC
watch house for nine months prior tc
prohibition in Portland, 421; during
nine months of prohibition, $50. The
number committed to almshouse for
same time 252 against AL under prohi-
bition.
A report of the examination of the
Irecords of 81 out of 106 counties in Kan
sas under prohibition show a diminu-
ton of from 70 to 80 per cent in crimes,
and the same reports show large re-
duction in paupers. in some counties
100 per cent In 1889, Kansas,
under prohibition had one states pri-
son with 996 inmates, Texas without
prohibition, with 100000 less inhabi-
tants had two penitentiaries with 5000
inmates. Mr.. Schade, special agent of
the Brewers congress, stated that the
partial enforcement of prohibition in
Boston one year caused a decrease of
sales of 116,5S5 barrels of brewers prod
ucts. In 1868. Massachusetts,, by the
aid of all parties, repealed the prohib-
itory and enacted license law. The
report of the chaplain of the States
prison for 1868 contained this state
ment, 1.-THE prison was never so FULL
The chief constable's report of that
state for same year shows that the
change from prohibition to license had
opened 25OO bars and 1000 other drink
ing places.
L. to-