The Somerset reporter., 1906-07-19

What Wants

EDITOR OF H POKrEB:-
Iuasmaeh as the RGfoKrER has
IN It's iast lumber asked the question
"Nhat does the Prohibition party of
Maine want?a II would naturally fol-
low that if someone would answer it
would be appreciated. As humble
member Of the Prohibition party not
only of Maine but of the entire country,
please allow me little space 10 answer
You should bear in mind that Pro
hibitioEist in Maine is connected and
is in harmony with The Prohibi
ZIONIST in the great rum cursed
Republican states of Pennsylvania,
Illinois, N isconsin, Michigan and others
equally as bad. We Prohibitionsts be-
lieve that this greatest of all questions
that confront the American people TO
day must be dealt with from national
standpoint. 1t is not confined to the
narrow limits of single state. 1t has
wider range and "a broader significance
than that. We realize that If ever the
rum traffic in this country is overthrow
or it's power for evil broken the national
/ l
come if at all through the combined eff
forts of all the people who believe IN the
principles Of Prohibition, politically ar
rayed against it in one party. his is
the aim of the Prohibition party. Ii
places tquarely in its national platforms
that the manufacture, importation and
sale of intoxicating liquors as beverage
should forever ceas Ii is the only poll
oil in
done this
We known that either the Republican
or Democratic parties have had complete
control throughout the entire country in
all past years and statistics prove that
the manufacture and sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors is continually on the increase.
| Now | ask what hope is there In the
future with these same parties in power?
And what hope is there when men who
claim to be actuated by lofty motives of
right and Justice and christian pIinci-
pies, will throw up their hats and hur-
rah for the political parties that foster
and sustain this great national evil.
IL the whole question under consider
alton were confined to the state of
Maine alone the editorial in the REPORT
Err would have some force Gov. Cobb
is to be commended for the bold atti-
tude he took for striking against a
large faction of his own party, but he is
| a Repub lean, allied with the Republi
cans in all the great rum states from
Maine to California and with them
must bear a large measure of the re-
sponsibihty for the great drink curse of
the nation. A majority of the Pro-
| hibitionists felt it unwise To support a
Republican for Governor even if be is to
be commended. taking the same attitude
that the REPORTER took two years ago
! in commenting sheriff Lang for his
fidelity and courage in enforcing the
prOhibitory law in Somerset county and
at the same time withheld its support
and aided in defeating him at the polls
admit that our numbers are compar-
atively few, but il is certain that the
| party Prohibitioni is of Maine have been
a mighty factor in awakening the public
conscience to higher standard on the
subject of prohibition 1t received a
great forward move when the Prohibit
| tionists In Cumberland county nomi-
mated that grand party leader Samuel
| Pearson and aided 80 greatly in his
election as sheriff That event started
the ball rolling and compelled the Re-
publican party to take the position it
has in Maine Now If we can hold on
with undaunted courage till the Repub
| lican party throughout the nation is
/ forced to take the attitude of national
prohibition, or go to deserved defeat
and let the prohibition party come to the
front and win, we shall have accom-
plished our high purposes
Now. friend editor, | claim the same
great right that you claim and that every
| loyal citizen of this country should claim,
to act and vote with the political party
that embodies his principals. size of
| party or its chance of winning has
nothing to do with it. He is political
! coward that withholds his influence
and vote from the party which he
/ conscientiously believes to be right.
/ am satisftd with the fact that for many
| years in the past and at the present
time | am a party ProhibltioList. 1t
! places in it's platforms my political prin-
| cpes and / choose to go down every
! election in defeat, with colors nailed to
/ the masthead, than to train with a
party, however victorious it may be,
which sustains and carries forward
principals cannot accept.
In closing will say that the Prohibi
ton party wants national prohibition of
the liquor traffic and it Is the only
party IN the country that has the cour-
age TO say 80.
). F. EMERSON.
July II. 1906