Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-31
p.oh;h;tion in Maine and Kansas.

a uTctDuCc OF enforcing H. Dut -heiii
pcrsists in keeping it on the statul"
book. while in Kansas the democratic
state contention mas just adopted
resolution providing for its resubmis-
sion 10 the people. 1t is possible how
cvcr mat if there We're any chance Of
, Democratic victory in Kansas the ac-
ton would be Observation-Disclosures
Ledger.
Prohibition in Kansas has been
part of the constitution Of the state Tor
u wears ana it is a safe wager that
Kansas IL not thinking 50 seriously OF
rcconsidering it but what it will be
there for n years, and twice p years
longer. In Maine, though the principle
of prohibition is many years older than
in Kansas it has been embodied m
the state constitution only Is years
rikn the flag in the Philippines it is
there to stay. and any party going 70
the polls on the issue Of repeating II
Nil be buried out Of sight by the bal
Iots 81 our people. The Democratic
party may talk resubmission and r.
neal. but Democratic talk in Maine
doesn't mean much 1t is taken even
Ioss seriously than it Is in Kansas.
What The people Of Maine think Of re-
sul mission VAS wen shown during the
session Of Legislature, year ago. II
was not question Of repeating our
tcmpcrance laws or Of repeating the
prohibition amendment TO the con-
..titution. but simply Of giving the peo-
rIc another opportunity Of expressing
their opinion on the subject as
they ala IL 1854. The people showed
that they were satisfied with existing
laws and constitution, and the attempt
at re,ubmIssion was overwhelmingly
voted down in both branches. The
lawmakers voted it down because the
people demanded that they should, ana
thr public sentiment was too powerful
to be- trnrd with. Were the whole
question rcsubmitted to the people Of
Maine at every election during the 10Th
century. the attempt tn take prohibition
from our constitution would not sue
coed some Of the few who are asking
it are honest temperance people with
The best of motives. but they are ON
thc wrong track ana fiud themselves in
unrougcuiaI ANA unwholesome COM
pany.
The Ledger makes the familiar fins
that In both Kansas ana Maine the
rrohihitory TAN is VIGOROUSLY violated
:.nd that there is only prctensc Of SIR
forcing it. Every law against crime Is
violated more or ISIS. and every law Is
enforced only IS public needs ana pub
Ifc npinfon demand. This is true Of
every state as wcll as Of Kansas and
Maine. Iu Philadelphia there are muir
der. assault. theft. bribery and many
other crimes committed daily: would
thc Ledger hava the laws against these
crimes abolished because the crimes
continue Jndor them. and some OF the
Offenders escape punishment? At
Maine the. rrohibitory law means abso-
INV, rrohihitiDn ~ practically All Of on
many hundreds Of country towns and
villages. IN most Of our cities liquor
~, ot.,,irod if tho seeker knows
.,.t,.,,..,,,1 how. ia Get If and is willing t
AIM, tho stuff that Il supplied him
r2,,t III, IMAGINE If would open the eyes
of the Ledger editor if he could visit
c,,,. Maine cities ana see how rum
selling Is made \ wholly discredited ana
disrcputablo buaia ss. confined to bacl
..hops ANA b;.tt allows. with nothing il
if to trmpt tho voung man to loa
around ,Irirl.il. places. and everythn.
IN II f. max. tte man who sells ant
VIVA nan WINS Iuvs ashamed of TIL
Transaction. Under prohibition Main
mas hal Great material prosperity. Ii
mo stat, is there a higher moral tom
,,ronc ,h.. naonIa ~ more respect 70