The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-09-09
disappearing Maine

tain OF our Maine exchanges ana nave
noted the great frequency with
which quotations condemnatory of
our prohibitory law have appeared
from the columns of the New York
Commercial.
The method of running these re-
prints is interesting 1T is somewhat
after this fashion: Some newspaper
like the Bangor Commercial will have
an airing of its feelings regarding the
prohibitory law, and its matter will
be copied into the New York Com
mercial together with additional COM
ments on the bad condition in Maine.
A day or two later, the Bangor paper
re-copies it's own editorial and quotes
In a conspicuous way whatever com
ment its New York namesake may
have added.
This method is very effective. 1t
gives one the impression that the
Bangor Commercial is the sole ex-
ponent Of public sentiment of Maine,
while its Importance In this respect is
attested by the big New York daily.
Then again, it serves to point out to
the people of Maine that the whole
prohibitory principle is utterly
wrong, at least from the New York
daily's point Of view and sc the law
ought forthwith to be repealed.
Still again, in quoting the Bangor
Commercial, whose opinions on the
prohlbitory law represent no others
opinion than the Bangor publishers,
the New York paper seeks to discredit
the prohibitory law in the eyes of its
own readers by constantly hammer
ing away on the idea that the whole
prohibitory law is bad-root and
branch.
Perhaps the Bangor Commercial is
proud of it's work In this respect;
perhaps 1t Is proud of an editorial
quoted entire in the New York Com
mercial-an editorial, by the way,
which contained enough untruths 9nd
half truths about the prohibitory law
to keep the Portland Argus, Water
Vile Sentinel, Maine Democrat. and
some of the smaller ones, supplied
with suitable texts for six months to
come.
And why, pray, should the New
York Commercial be so much inter-
ested in the manner in which our
laws are enforced? Why should 1t
print column after column of com
ments on the immoral condition OF
Maine from "a prejudiced source of
authority?
Hasn't the New York Comm ercial
plenty of work to do In Its own little
bailiwick? Or are the moral condi-
tons of the people Of the great
metropolis so c!ean hat The Com
mercial 40 longer neeGs TO devote its
columns to Its own household affairs
In fact, are the Tammany Hall laws
OF New York City so we'll enforced
that the Commercial has no other
business to attend to than to climb
upon its own backyard fence and
make faces at US Maine folks?
And how happens 1t that the New
York discourser on pure citizenship
knows so very much about the peo-
pie of Maine as Is contained in the
following clipping from its columns
Almost beyond all question
majority of the people OF Maine
are opposed to prohibition, at
least to the law as 1t Is now
enforced there.
Oh, yes, the people of Maine are
nightly opposed to prohibition when
not single vote was passed at the
last Maine legislative session calling
for the resubmission of the prohibit
tory law!
Yes, indeed, the people of Maine
are tremendously opposed to the law
when, In the best fight the opposing
forces put up, they could not marshal
one-half the total number OF petit
TONERS which were marshalled by the
temperance forces!
Most certainly, the people of
Maine are just falling over them
selves in opposing the law, when all
the religious and moral forces OF the
State stand squarely for the prohibi-
tory principle!
II the people of Maine are opposed
to prohibition, why in the world
don't they change the law? The
enemies. as usual, can have the finan
cial backing of the liquor forces, and
can probably get the backing of the
New York Commercial
Why do the people not change the
law? Because the people do not
want to change the law; because the
people are not yet resdy to emulate
the example of New York by adopt
ing the miserable license system that
never was, never can, and never will
be enforced half as we'll as the pro-
hibitory law OF Maine when enforced
at its very worst!
That's why. If one judges the SEN
timent of the people by the shrill
tones of the Sentinel, Argus and
Democrat, which are doing everything
under heavens to discredit the law in
the eyes of the people, then we ought