The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-12-22
An Important Subject

MI c"ito hlnui1 diioW me tphC'
In the REPORTER for few words on -
subject OF greatest importance. ! re-
greet that ii can be put down IA SELF
evident fact that one law 90 the statute
Of Maine is not being actively enforced
in our town Of Skowhegan. In tn.
spirit Of our Institutions, the court Of
last appeal ia public opinion, and now
AZ always. the power is ours to execute
what our Legislative representatives have
enacted. al enactment, too, which has
had the endorsement Of direct vote by
the people.
Now, is it a fact that ;he liquor law
Of Maine is a dead letter: Can It be
regarded as an enactment which ex-
presses the spirit Of past generation
but not that Of the present? There are
instances where laws have outlived their
usefulness and thus become dead IN
spirit, but such cannot be true Of the
prohlbitory law OF Maine. Prohibition
Is live issue and one that is winning
fresh victories every year. Zach elec-
| ton III local option states records add
| ten TO the ranks Of mo license" and
thus each year local option becomes pro-
| hibition To Il greater eXtert. Further
more, no longer can a prohibi;ory law
be called the Maine law for now such
"a law has place on the statutes of
several other States. 1t is the glory of
Maine that she led and thus showed to
the world the meaning of our State
motto In this crusade of the 18th cen
fury. But in these closing years Of the
century, does our State still hold her
place in the van?
To speak plainly our people appear IL
| be resting on the record of the past II
is not gratifying to compare SkOW hogan
Of today with what it has been in the
past in this matter of enforcement OF
the law. Be it understood that Skuw.
hogan is singled out from the other
towns and cities of our State, not he.
cause it is a particle more blighted b1
this curse of the liquor traffic, but be.
cause it is in Skowhegan that we can dc
our work. One who travels through oul
country can see all degrees of degradation
that comes from the rum traffic. Pre-
| hibition even as we have it in SkoWhe.
gan is far better than high license. be
cause it takes away from the traffic and
those engaged in it any pretence to re-
probability and legality. Though thi,
fact shuts the door of the saloon to 3
certain class, yet the vile stuff sole
| therein, Just as surely blasts the lives Of
those that do enter. | say saloon" fol
these places on our streets are lust a.
truly saloons as though their signs anC
window displays told the whole truth.
Although many of us are willing To be
called extremists in such cause as pre-
hihiton, one needs not be- an extremist
to see the need Of "A decided stand on
this question. ! overheard converse
ton on II train recently between Two
business men who lived in local
option state. Both were plainly mer
who daily saw enough of life Il
realize the enormity of the liquor
curse, and both voted for "no license,
though neither, it appeared, was ,
teetotaler. AS one put it: II have
son and for his safety | must vote agains
the saloon and when defeated at tn,
polls refuse to sign any petition to gran
a license. This costs trade and make:
leuemies, but how would | feel if nv boy
should come home drunk, having ob
tanned the liquor at a saloon for who's,
license | petitioned - And can we il
Skowhegan take any different position
True, it is that we are not asked to sigl
any petition for license. but do we no
virtually license the evil as we walk VI
and down our business streets with on
eyes shut TO the growing audacity of tn,
illegal traffic in alcoholic drinks? lie
us not content ourselves with having
east our votes on the side of temperance
and indeed those of our citizens mos
interested in the safety of the HON,
have not even had that privilege, but lie
us realize that our duty to ourselves anC
to our neighbOrs demands more and tina
is enforcement of the law.
Many of us are so optimistic as to thinl
Maine is the best State in the Union
some of us also regard Skowhegan a
the most progressive of Maine towns
Before we aspire TO be city, can W,
not make this true of our town by hav
ing our laws enforced, thus insurins
safety to all of our inhabitants. Safet,
there cannot be for our boys while on,
saloon is allowed TO keep its doors open
When our prohibitory law is made t,
prohibit to greater degree, we can eaci
live richer and safer life while at home
and when away take an even create
pride in being called
Estate OF-MAINER.n