The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-04-10
MAINE AND MASSACHUSETTS,.
A Test of the Prohibition lava
Comparison Invited by Ex-Gov-
nor Garvin of Rhode Island.
BY Hon. Charles e. Littlefield.

nor GarVln OF Rhode Island.
BY Hon. Charles e. Littlefield.
Gan article in The Christian En-
deavor World, of Boston, by Elk.
Governor Garvin, of Rhode Island
was discussion of Questionable
Reforms" In the course of the ar.
ticle Governor Garvin made unfavor.
able remarks regarding the state
prohibition law of Maine, contrast.
ing Massachusetts with the Pine Tree
State, to the disadvantage of the lat.
ter. The editor of the Christian
Endeavor World asked Congressman
Littlefield to present the matter
from his standpoint, and the follow
ing article is made up of excerpts
from his reply. We quote it at this
time as an able refutation of the mis-
leading statistics which are being
circulated by the liquor trade press. }
/ am obliged to the editor for
calling my attention to Mr.. Garvin g
reference to prohibition in Maine and
the three reasons which he gives why
prohibition is seen to be a superb
cial REFORM
The first is purely political and is
peculiarly matter of personal Opin-
ion as distinguished from one of
concrete fact, and has greater or
les weight as political obligations
or fealty rests more or less lightly
upon theindividual whose action is
to be determined by the considera-
lions involved. 1t is therefore specu-
lative rather than demonstrative in
it's character.
The second is one of fact, so far
as the facts are demonstrate by
attainable data. The assertion that
men get drunk as often in Maine as
in Massachusetts, and that eff the
prosperity of community is rightly
measured by it's increase of wealth
and population, then Maine ranks
as one of the least prosperous of all
the states" while somewhat guarded
and circumscribed in it's scope, is
still fair illustration of the hasty
and ill-considered congratulations
frequently met with in the discussion
of this subject by the uniformed.
I think Maine can successfully stand
the test laid down
Inasmuch as Massachusetts has
been referred to by way of compari-
son, and as she is popularity under
stood to be at least a fair representa-
tive of development in the line of
moral, social and material welfare,
thus giving an exacting standard,
will confine myself to that state for
comparisons. All of the statistics to
which I shall refer, unless otherwise
specified, are from the United States
census, where they can be easily YER
flied. They have the advantage of
being disinterested, and of all being
taken on the same basis.
Whether or not community has
prospered during a given period,
from the material point of view sug-
gested by Mr.. Garvin, clearly de-
ponds upon the accumulation of
wealth per capita, and its increase
or decrease, and there Maine easily
outstrips Massachusetts, as her per
capita wealth in 1850 was $210,
while in 10000 it was 1882, an in
crease of four and one-half times
Massachusetts, had per capita in 1850
$577, and in 1900 $1,553, an in
crease Of only two and four-fifths
times
This Is the period covered by the
Maine law. Moreover, from 1880 to
1902 Maine had decreased her indeb
tedness per capita $40, and Massa-
chusetts had increased hers by the
same amount
The liquor traffic is the most pro-
life and potential source of insanity, |
pauperism and crime. These, to
quote Mr.. Garvin, are "the evils of
drunkenness" that ARE so common
and so potent and make the loss to
society seem so vast" Their connec-
tion with the subject under discus
sion is close enough to warrant ex-
animation and analysis in this con-
nection.
In 1903 Maine had S85 insane in |
its hospitals. 1858 for every 100,-
900 people. Massachusetts, had 81
679, or 1855 for every 100000,
more than twice as many as Maine,
Notwithstanding the fact that the
death record in Massachusetts for in
sane in hospitals was 1,O25, with
OuIy 90 Ill MdluC, HcdIly cItNcu
times as many, when there should |
only have been four times as many.
Maine shows decrease of the num-
Der of insane, with her relatively
small death rate of insane, since
1880 of 1923 in every 100000 peo-
pie, while Massachusetts, shows an
increase of 1 in every 100000.
In the Maine almshouses there
were, December 81, 1903, 1852 pau
pers, or 1881 for every 100, 900 peo-
pie. and in Massachusetts, 1894, or
1878 for every 100000; and here
again the death rate in Massachu-
sets was 1898, and only 1S1 in
Maine. Maine shows from 1890 to
1903 a decrease in paupers of 8,
and Massachusetts, an increase dur
ing the same time of 1903.
Names death rate from alcohol
ism in 1900 for every 100000 peo-
pie was %; that of Massachusetts,
was 6.S, three times as gerat. Names
rate is lower than that of any Other
state in the Union except New Hamp-
.ll-o,a xrh;,h 10 tho came There |