The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-13
Prohibition in NIainc.

Editor of The Times:
Sir-In your issue of June LIST appeared
an editorial under the title, Names Sham
Prohibition" OF the whole system OF pro-
hibition, you say, 1T IS q miserable sham
and pretense," and lis i shocking display
OF public hypocrisy"
Were not a reader OF the New Voice,
and were I not posted on the haleful ef-
fects and deep damnation OF the 2ccursed
legalized liquor traffic, and did [ not know
why the prohibition law was violated even
in Maine, L would most assuredly con-
clude from your article that the law itself
is a curse, and the voting population OF
Maine church members included, OF
course, was a set of vile contemplate
hypocrites. But I knew better.
II certainly is q good thing to read bo1H
sides of any question that has two sides
After prohibition was thirty years in
force in Maine. the liquor traffic was re-
duced 50 per cent. The State from bein-
one of the poorest and weakest, became
one of the most prosperous and wealthy
It is marvellous Tow much is accom-
plished for the benefit of the home. the
church, the State and the nation, even
when the officers OF the law are not IN
sympathy with the law, but are in syn
patty with the law-breakers. Were the
officials Protibitionsts, the blessings ac-
crling from the law would be greatly null
tiplied.
fire this shot, swift and straight and
hot, between the eyes OF the whining old
party, whisky apologiSt: For every
ounce Of real failure to be charged
against prohibition, administered by men
who are lis avowed enemies, a ton stands
against regulation as administered by
officers and political parties favorable
towards it and committed to its support
We are prepared TO furnish absolute
proof of this statement.
Judge r. w. ArchibaId. president judge
OF Lackawanna county. Pa. in a recent
address TO the county constabies ana
grand jury, showed conclusively that the
regulation of tie liquor traffic through
tax or license laws is an absolute failure,
and that The pretended enforcement OF
such laws is a bowling farce, The admin
istration OF the liquor law is well-nigh a
farce and it does not get better, il gets
worse.
Notwithstanding the fact tina, there ex-
ist in this county, granted by tnis court,
between five and six hundred licenses, the
Illegal sale OF liquor, that is the sale OF
liquor without a. license. runs riot
could give much more, but this is suf-
fcient
Mr., Editor. will you or some whisky
licensing advocate, give an answers to
every one of these questions?
|. Are the licensed saloons q blessing 10
the home?
?. Do the saloons help the morals OF
community? If SO, in what way?
| g. Do saloons reduce the taxes OF the
! people?
/. WHAT good have saloons ever done 10
aav place or community?
:. II the saloon is a blessing TO the peo-
| pie. and il to engage in the liquor traffic
I is legitimate and respectable. why do you
| mace around it such restrictions, and re-
| auire such heavy bonds?
| & II the liquor traffic IS a curse TO the
| nanple. can a sci of men or a. government,
| processing civilization. license it, and do
right?
:. Has any government the risht 10
| license men to do wrong?
| 5. Is 1t right to license one man TO
tempt another TO commit crirne2
| 9. AS there are those VINO VII sseal N
spite Of tina Jaws Hould 1t not BE good Qole