Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-03
ARGUMENTS FOR LICENSE.
Speaker from Bay State Tells About
Open Saloons and Endorses Cobb.

o. r. Miller of Holyoke, Mass. spoke
Sunday evening in the City Opera house
| on high License and Local Option il
/ MASSACHUSETTS. The meeting had bee!
We'll advertised and large audience was
| present.
| The speaker began by saying that there
| were SIX reasons why high license is moi
better than prohibitions: First, that high
| license Is continually violated; second
| that 1t does not drive out low dives
| third, that it is harder to enforce; fourth
I II causes more drunkenness: fifth, il
| raises taxes; sixth, it causes a great deal
| more political corruption Then the
| speaker went on Ia show by figures that
| there are more low dives than licensed
| saloons in the state Of Massachusetts I'M
der the existing law
The speaker next considered the claim
that the man having the license prescott
ed the low dive. He said that the reason
why nothing could be done was that the
| man paying high license was continually
violating the law. This fact not being
unknown to the keeper of the low dive,
the proprietor Of the licensed establish
1hent was at the mercy of the divekeeper.
he also said that the low dives bought
their liquor from the larger saloons. He
cited many of his own experiences show
ing it is impossible to get the municipal
officials to enforce the law and equally as
difficult to secure convictions. He told of
the tricks the rumsellerS practice to gain
trade, one of the favorite ones being the
practice of scattering sawdust soaked
with beer over the sidewalk He declared
that the idea that under prohibition more
rum is sold is a deliberate lie OF the Ii
that the dry goods man can sell moro
goods with his curtains down and his
door closed as to say that more liquor
is sold under prohibition than under Ii
cense. He declared that every plate glass
i'll the stores in n city was an ar
gliment in favor of prohibition.
Mr. Miller said and proved by figures
that it costs 81 to take care of the Grim
inals and paupers directly traceable to
the saloon for every dollar of license
money taken in. In speaking of the vio-
lations of the license law he took up the
cases of six so-called hotels. None of
these hotels had over four rooms. yet
his witnesses by actual count on the sec
ond Sunday of March, 1901, found that
places, and on Labor day of the same
year from 1130 to 1887 patrons entered
these places. All of these men must UNI
der the law have been registered guests
at the hotel to legally obtain liquor there.
Mr.. Miller took UP the claim made by
license advocates of the better quality OF
liquor that is alleged to be sold in the Ii
cense saloons, and showed by official fig
ures that the liquor is of an exception
ally poor quality and that it is not I'M
common for men to be killed by drinking
the vile connections put out.
One case came under his personal OBJ
servation, that of n young man who was
killed by a single drink of whiskey that
was obtained from n licensed saloon.
Mr.. Miller showed that every wear the
temperance men must fight two battles.
They must elect honest officials and car
nv the town or city for no-licenSe. The
saloon men can win a victory by electing
dishonest officials or by carrying the city
for license, thus having but one fight
while the temperance people have two.
The speaker closed with strong appeal |
to the people to stand by Coy. Cobb. who
has so fearlessly and honestly enforced
the law.