The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-08-20
Littlefield on Prohibition.

AT Old Orchard, last week, Congress
man Litttf spoke emphaticslly for
prohibition.
The position of the United States
government, Mr.. Littlefleld said, is not
In all respects satisfactory, but the
amendment to the canteen law prepared
by himself was adopted, and it is no
longer possible for a congressman TO
treat or be treated 10 the capitol A
total abstainer is now respected IN Cor
gress and everywhere else.
He quoted the statement of Hon.
Carroll d. Wright, that every dollar of
the S1S0,000 900 liquor tax cost the
country $2l LOO, and argued that as The
| liquor people are in the business for the
sake of the money, the proper way TO
deal with them would be to double the
tax. He argued that this increase
would not add a single saloon to the
number now existing. ard read from a
circular of the retail liquor dealers
association to show that they reioieed
that they had prevented the increase of
the tax and had saved millions ITO the
trade, remember, but not to the country"
He said that the association r. joiced
at the result in Vermont and in New
Hampshire, but added and was loudly
applauded, "There will be no Jewels 10
the crown of their rejoicing because Of
the resubmission movement in Maine.
1t will be dissolved and b. lost to sight.
The great mass of the people look TO
results, and we stand by the results of
honestly enforced prohibition
Mr.. Littlefield then discussed the sit
uation 10 Maine. He rejoiced that at
last the so-called Bangor plan is no
more, and there was a storm of az
plause when he said Il trust it has
gone forever"
mo city," he said, "has the right to
nullify the law, not even Bangor" 1.-THE
prohibitory law was not adopted by
Bangor, but by the people Of the State
of which Bangor is a part. 1t Is as
much the duty of every preacher, law
yer, business man, citizen, official and
policeman of Bangor to obey the law as
it is your duty or mine.
Mr.. Littlefleld said that the question
is asked, "Does prohibition prohibit %
He would ask in turn, Does the divlnely
given law written on the tablet of stone.
"Thou shalt not KILL" prohibit murder !?
We need not go to the south for an
answer. He said that the prohibtory
law would not entirely stop drinking,
even If made national enactment, but
it is the best system by which the evil
can be regulated of which we have any
knowledge. The law of Massachusetts
against stealing did not prevent Allen
from taking $4,000. We demand the
standard of results. Let New Hamr-
shire and Vermont travel along side by
side with Maine and let results tell the
story"
Mr.. Littlefield declared that Maine
would take no backward step. "Chief
Justic Wiswell recently showed clearly
the position of the supreme court, and
he spoke for every Judge on the bench"
Mr.. Littletield then asked the question {:
"What remains to be done ~ and said
ave must stand by the law and the
constitution. We must elect sherffs,
county attorneys, mayors and marshals
who are in accord with the position tax.
en- by the court. The GoG-fearing people
of the State must elect iiieials 10 line
with the law. Something else is on our
side-.he power of God. We believe
that through all the history of the re-
public Gods hand has been back of this
nation"