The independent-reporter., 1910-05-19
THURSDAY, MAY 10.
Is Pittsfield Suffering Thro
Lack of Enforcement >?

The Pittsfield Advertiser of May II
has an editorial, too long for us to re-
produce in full, replying to the indie
pendent-Reporter's editorial of May
s, headed ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Campaigning" There are certain
paragraphs, however, which demand a
reply.
We do not pretend to dictate to the
Skowhegan paper what they ought to
publish in their columns nor the
methods they should employ in con-
ducting their apparently very success
full business, nor do we propose to
allow them to make any rules to guide
us in what shall appear in the col
umns of the Advertiser. We certain
ly have our hands full in minding our
own business and striving honestly to
publish a clean home paper.
Perhaps it would be we'll to state
for the benefit of the Independent
Reporter that we have in some past
issue of our paper, announced that the
columns of the Advertiser were open
to all for the insertion of articles or
discussion of all matters of decent
nature which might be sent us, pro-
viding the same appeared over the
signature of the writer We meant
this and have adhered to this rule
very closely, whether we endorsed the
opinions expressed or not.
We are pleased to admit that the
Advertiser has always been a clean
and straightforward sheet and has
our support for continual success.
Nor does the Independent-Repo
wish to dictate to the Pittsfield Ad
vertiser what it's columns shall con-
tain, but it does desire to see public
matters truthfully represented. We
are one with the Advertiser In advo-
eating free speech and independence.
and are willing that our columns be
of important questions, but even in
accepting articles appearing over sig
natures 1t is well to display a bit of
ordinary good sense, and to reject
stuff of a spurious brand, caluculated
to give wrong impression in an i'm
portant matter. We would not pub
lish half a column of illuminated pro-
family for the reason that some per-
son had placed his signature at the
bottom or for monetary considera-
tion; editorial discretion and the
privilege of selection would lead us
to reject such matter. We would not
publish a clear Misrepresentation of
the facts concerning liqdor selling in
Pittsfield for the same reason.
1.-The facts regarding the enforce
ment of the prohibitory law in Pitts
field as far as we have been able to
determine by observation, inquiry,
and unbiased opinion, are about as
follows:
That for many months previous to
the time when drunkenness on our
streets increased to such an extent
that 1t became not only obnoxious but
dangerous to the welfare of the citi-
zens of this village, there were appar-
emily no successful efforts made by
the officers in ferreting out the source
of the trouble. 1t was only upon the
earnest solicitation and expressed de-
sire of some of our citizens, that the
officers commenced to do something
to remedy the evil, and numerous ar
rests began to be made. For the past
few weeks the records of the NUM- |
cipal court show decided increase
of business in trying and sentencing
prisoners for intoxication. This speaks
for itself.
There is no doubt but what this
condition of affairs is largely due to
the floating population and not to any
great extent to the people who reside