Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-16
Address by Mrs. L. NJ. N. Stevens

SHE SPEAKS AT THE COURT TEMPER
ANCE MEETING TUESDAY EVENING.
The usual court temperance meeting
was held at the court house Tuesday
evening. Hon. James S. Wright pre-
sided. Prayer was offered by Rev. j. w.
Chesbro of the South Paris Baptist
church, after which Mr.. Wright intro
duced the speaker of the evening" Mrs.
L. NJ. ". Stevens of Portland, State and
National President of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, to the
very large sssemblage present. Mrs:
Stevens is very pleasing speaker, and
thoroughly converssnt with all phases OF
the temperance question. She spoke in
part as follows:
consider it great honor to have the
privilege of speaking at the court
temperance meeting. Possibly this may
be the first time that woman has had
the honor to be the speaker, and on be-
half of the women of Maine thank you.
Ii is undoubtedly true, as often said,
that women suffer most from intemper-
ance, and because of this the temperance
Crusade fire was kindled and the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
was born, now the largest organization
of women in the world, and of world
wide Importance and influence.
The fundamental principles OF this
and of all temperance societies OF to-day
are total abstinence and prohibition. I'm
questionably there is more total absti-
hence sentiment and practice in our
county and in the world to-day than ever
before. Commercialism has come to the
help of the temperance reform. More
than a million men in one great branch
of business in our country are total alb
stainers either because they wish to be
or have to be in order to retain their
positions. The value of total abstinence
is recognized to-day by many who have
hitherto been unmindful of it, and who
have now decided TO drink no more. Two
notable examples of this class are Pres
ideut Taft and DR.. Eliot, president OF
Harvard College. 1t extends into nearly
every country, even Russia.
But must pass on TO that other great
principle, prohibition. There is more
prohibition sentiment and prohibition
territory than ever before. A recent
enumeration warrants us in estimating
that the statewide prohibition states
now have population of fifteen mil
lions, and in addition to this thirty mil
lions of people are now living in saloon
less territory which has been gained
through local option, the four mile law,
the excise law, etc. The wonder is not
that Maine and many other states have
outlawed the traffic, but that anywhere
in any enlightened community legal per-
mission is given to make and sell that
which causes 80 per cent of the insanity,
IS per cent of the idiocy, so per cent of
the poverty and 80 per cent of the crime
of our land.
prophesy that prohibition territory
will increase rapidly. The prohibition
movement in the South is not a wave
that will recede. II is not for the
benefit of the Negro, as has been said.
1t is ethical and religious. | dare TO
prophesy that before long we shall have
a solid prohibition South. No doubt
some of you read few months ago
Dicksun's "Battle of the Bottles" in
the course of which he introduces this
bit of rhyme:
Il u Il
sian free;
saw the bsr.rooms close their doors in Mem
phis, Tennessee;
saw the laden camel pass through the needles
eye;
/ saw the trust that paid its fine; saw old KEN
lucky dry"
Although il seemed miraculous few
months ago, yet part of this dream
has come to pass, for the bar-rooms in
Memphis, Tennessee, have been ordered
closed by law. and old Kentucky is
nearly dry. Ninety-six out of Ken
tucky's 116 counties have voted out the
saloon, and 90 per cent of the territory
is free from the saloon.
Local option has served and is serving
as q stepping stone TO prohibition. 1t is
amazing that any Maine man or woman
capable of sound reasoning should advo-
cate local option for Maine. For Maine
to adopt local option would be stepping
down from prohibition while other states
are stepping up toward it. Maine has
been, is now and will continue to be the
bright particular target of the liquor
tribe of the nation and the world. The
liquor fraternity would give millions to
overthrow prohibition in Maine or even
to weaken the law by substituting local
option.
Our governor has we'll described the
present situation in Maine when he said
in his inaugural address, 1--WE have pro-
hibition in the constitution, state en-
forcement in the statutes and resubmis-
sion in the limbos." Who is it as a rule
who wants resubmission? l need not
take time to answer this, for every one
knows that it is the people who want a
license law and who know that resub-
mission must be the first step to secure
it. Two-thirds of this legislature, or Of
any legislature, will not vote for result
mission.
have studied all laws enacted to ap-
ply to the liquor traffic, and have visited
all states and seen the practical work.
ings of an the systems, and l can re-
iterate tonight with more confidence
than ever before what / have been say
ing for years, that prohibition at its
worst is better than any form of license
at its best.
Referring again to the Maine law, no
backward prohibition step will be taken
in Maine. The Sturgis law will be re-
tanned or some equally good enforcement
law provided. The Hastings bill will
probably be enacted. The agency law will
be retained with needful amendments.
The w. G. T. U. believes that alcohol is
a dangerous and unnecessary medicine.
and is trying to educate all the people to
think 30, but while there are decreas-
ing number of physicians who prescribe
IL there sho aid be a way for the pre-
scriptions to be filled without violation
Of law.
To-day the conscience of the people on
the temperance question is awakened as
never before. The question Is, Is 1t
right to sell strong drink? II it is, then
every one who wishes to sell it should do
so. II It is not, then no one should be
allowed to sell 1t by the payment of
license fee. II prohibition did not re-
duce the amount of liquor sold and con-
sumed, all the brewers, distillers, liquor
sellers, all Of their papers and sympa-
tbizers would not be forever opposed to
prohibition; resolving against it In their
conventions, raising vast sums OF money
to defeat and TO overthrow it. They de-
clare they ''must spare no effort to save
what is left Of their business" but their
business has In II no saving grace. 1t
can not be saved. Il is doomed to de-
structlon, and the sooner Il Ia destroyed,
root, trunk, branch and all, the better
for the world. .