The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-12-12


preached by Rev. H. w. Kimball IN the
Congregational Church, Nov. Gath, upon
men and Alcohol very important
topic. The sermon was based upon per.
sonal interviews with Que hundred cti-
zens of Skowhegan. At first the drift of
it, the summing up Of the views of the
one hundred and the deductions there
from appeared to as to be to the discredit
OF prohibition, but closer reading con-
WINGED us that this is not fair construc-
ton to place upon the discourse. That
43 out Of 100 should say they are in
favor of the prohibitory law, even as 1t
is now abused, Is encouraging and that
the otf er 80 of the 100 concur In making
unanimous the proposition that the law
ought to DO enforced is significant.
Moreover the most of the 90 reported not
In favor of the prohibitory law, were
opposed to it because it Is not enforced.
This, OF course, is an objection to the ex-
ecution of the law and not to the law
ITSELF
The use of alcoholic liquors as bev-
erage is the monster evil of the century,
economically, physically, ethically. All
adequate governments recognize this
and throw restraints about its sale in
some form. Whatever law or Influence
will curtail the drinking of the accursed
stuff is a blessing, and that law or influ,
ence which will do the most in that di-
rection is of the greatest good
La Maine and some other States the
manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors,
except for medicinal, mechanical and
manufacturing purposes, are outlawed,
made crime punishable by fines and
Imprisonment. The true object of the
law is to make 1t difficult for men to get
Intoxicating liquors and thus restrict in
toxication. The question arises whether
the law really has this effect? We be-
lieve it has. We believe there has been
a less quantity of intoxicants used in
Maine by reason of the prohibtory law
and less drunkenness during the so years
1t has been in operation than there would
have been under any form of license,
high or low, with or without a local
option attachment, notwithstanding
the abuse the law has been subjected
to.
Has anyone an idea that there would
be less ntoxicants used in Maine for
the next ten or twenty years should the
odium of illegality be lifted from the liq-
uor traffic, or that moral sentiment
would be In any way elevated in the
State by the overthrow of prohibition?
A change from prohibition to license in
any form would make whiskey making
and whiskey selling legally respectable
in this State. We do not believe Maine
people are ready for this condition.
The prohibtory law, enforced by con
current, reasonable action of municipal
and county officers and the courts, with
the same fidelity, ability and energy
given to the enforcement of other laws
of our criminal code, would make vast
difference in the use of intoxcants iu
the State and materially increase the
favor prohibition.
License laws are no defense against
dives, kitchen bar rooms, pocket ped
ding or Sunday selling. They do not
take the saloon out of politics but give
it greater power In politics. With dis
tillery In Portland, brewery in Bangor,
wholesale liquor stores in all the princi-
pal cities, the opportunity for political
organization in the interest of the traffic
wsuld be greatly augmented and the in
fluence Of the rum power many times In
creased. The law-abiding, order-loving
people of Maine are not suffering for II
change In this direction at this time.
We know little about the workings of
the government dispensary plan in South
Carolina or in European countries. Why
should it work better In Maine than pro
hibtion? II it should have tendency
to curtail the use of liquors, there would
be the same pecuniary indueement to
illegal sale that now exists, and State
officials might not be more inclined to
enforce that law than county officials
are the probibitory Jaw.
Judging from the following clipping,
the system is by ne means without de-
fects:
1.-THE governmental supervision and
ownership of the liquor traffic in Russia
seems not to have eliminated its worst
consequences, to Judge from the fact
that the village councils in the famine
stricken districts are entreating the gov
eminent to suspend the traffic altogether
until the famine period is past, on the
ground that there Is so much drunken.
ness that the police cannot keep order"
1t is no part of wisdom to "hy from
evils we have to those we know not Of"
We want to know there is something
better than prohibition before we give 1t
up.
The State Board of Health has become
satisfied that the State of Maine is in
danger of the spread of smallpox, and