Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-20
PROHIBITION RALLY.
Aaron S. Watkins, Candidate for Vice
President, Speaks at Island Park.

Island Park Wednesday evening, adj
dressed by the candidate for Vice Pres
ident, Prof. Aaron S. Watkins of Ada,
Ohio. 1t was opened by a concert by
the Augusta Cadet Band and about 500
persons We're present when the meet
ing commenced.
Seated on the platform were the fol-
lowing prominent workers: Rev W.
D. Lukens, Hon. James H. Ames of
ROwdoinham, Prohibition candidate
for Governor; w. l. Sterling of Water
Vile. county chairman and candidate
for Congress; Hon. Jose phi E. Briggs of
Winthrop, candidate for State senator
from Kennebec county; Hon. Henry
Woodward of winthrop, candidate for
judge of probate; A. 8. McCausland Of
Farmingdalc, candidate for county
commissioner: F. S. Wingate of Hall
DWELL, member of the county commit
tee: j. w. Church of Hallowell, mem
Der of the county committee; Charles
II. Clary of Hallowell and Rev. r. A
Rich of Winthrop. in addition to the
speaker of the evening.
TheDmeeting was presided over by
Rev. w. Dewitt Lukens of Hudson. n.
Y, and in a few words he introduced
Mr. Watkins as the speaker of the
evening.
Prof. Watkins began by saying that
the liquor traffic complexities many
problems. 1t complexities the immi-
grafton question There is no imm-
grafton problem outside of the saloon
district. SO long as the immigrant set
ties in the extreme West, away from
the saloons, there is no immigrant
question.
1.-The saloon causes the misgovern
ment of cities by political bosses and
complexities the labor problem in sew
eral ways, taking the wages Of the la
boring man, leaving him on the verge
Of poverty, and he imagines his condi
ton is the result of oppression from
his employer.
I'VE have passed through our his
tory of temperance reform, through
preliminary stages of moderation and
total abstinence, and experienced Ii
cense plans, and have reached point
where temperance, now, means total
abstinence for the individual and pro-
hlbition for the state and nation. No
ma tier whether low or high license,
and as revenue measure and nothing
more. Having thus agreed on the fun
damental principles of temperance ref
| crmation, we are enabled to agree up
on the means by which prohibition will
| be established.
"Many people contend that it should
! be by non-partisan methods, and these
people see no reason for the existence
of the Prohibition party. We do not
| deny that much good has been and can
| be accomplished by non-partisan
| methods in a local and temporary way.
but We do not deny that these nonpar
| tizan methods are a practical solution
of the question.
| PARTY ,nethods have been in use more
| than a hundred years. All the great
questions have thus far been settled by
that method, and we see no apparent
reason why the American people will
abandon it and adopt a new one. We
must meet facts as they are and comply
| with present conditions" The speaker
said that the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union. the Arti-Saloon League the
Good Templars and the church were do
ing a good work, but in this respect POI
litical prohibition is the only consistent
method
ct is unrea sonablc to maintain the
great political parties. at great expense
| if they will not do the most important
business before the American people. II
the political parties were taken out of the
way we might talk about non-partsar
methods.
| '"The Prohibition party is the true one
for the reason that it follows the Gus
| toms of OUR government. 1t allows every
temperance man to vote in perfect har
moBy with his Judgment. man may
vote a temperance ticket and he may
thing he is temperate at heart, not rec
ognizing the clear and simple principle
that man might he a drunkard and vote
right on the temperance question. Ther
4 again. a model man might vote entirely
wrong. .sTs
IF that means anything said tn,
speaker. cit means that every voter i!
required to be a prophet if he wishes t.
be a good citizen. He must look into
the future and find the winner ard tLer
vote for him.
"There is something wrong with Tho
principle. According to this principle ev
cry Democrat in Pennsylvania will throw
his vote away this year. for in all human
probability the electoral vote in Pcnnsyl
vania will be for Mr.. Taft. ard ever,
Republican voter in Georgia will throw
his vote away, as Mr.. Bryan will in al
probability carry the electoral vote o.
that state.
. But do they throw away their vote
Certainly not. if their vote represent:
their true convictions. 1t is foolish t.
vote for what you don't want simply be
cause YOU can get it.
1.-THE people have waited from year t.
year hoping that one of the old parties
would take firm stand on the temper
ancc question. but are now seeing tina
this will never happen. hence they are
coming to us by the thousands and in al
human probability the vote this fan will
he surprisingly large and will reach 3
figure 50 important that it will be recog
nized by tie citizens four years from now
We ask you to join us in this movement
using your best Judgment. When yor
have done this will be satisfied with the
result"
Mr.. Watkins made a good impression
upon his hearers and held their attent ior