Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-23
The Rum Trust Writers.

paign against the Maine law for eff
feet on other territory It's corps OF
writer's. who supply all kinds of pub
locations with readable stuff" con-
tanning the right proportion OF misin-
formation and sophistry. are eontinu-
ing their stories" of the election and
its results. \ study of these articles
reveals all the oft-repeated .argu-
ments' that have been used by the
liquor interests and friends in all the
years since attempt was made to re-
strain the traffic.
In the Pittsburg Despatch We find
an article by man who frankly adj
mits that he was never in Maine in his
life. yet he has seen men from the
Pine Tree State and feels perfectly
competent to describe conditions here
and prescribe a remedy. Can you
guess what this mans remedy would
he?
This writer's name is E. w. Light
ner and his article probably will be
printed on slips and sent out by the
National Wholesale Liquor Dealers
Assn for free" use by the press of the
country, as what a distinguished
writer says Of conditions in Maine
Mr.. Lightner, in his article says:
For three -fifths of a century the
Maine law has been quoted as a
criterion and foundation for move
ments for prohibition. For three
fifths OF century all the State OF
Maine and all aliens familiar with its
activities have well known that the Law
has been to a great extent dead let
ter Although l have never beer
within the boundaries of the State,
have known intimately many citizens
of il IN Congress and in the Govern
ment departments at Washington. anC
not one would ever assert that the Law
has been enforced"
This writer like all those who writ
for rum trust approval, tells you tina
the Maine law is not enforced, but h
SAYS nothing about whether other law
for the regulation of the liquor traf
fie are enforced. His purpose seems
to be like all the rum trust writers Il
convince all possible people that con
ditions are worse in Maine than in IL
cense states, and that the prohibitorS
law ought to be changed to improve
them
Mr.. I.ightner tells his readers thai
he has been told that the Maine Law
is not enforced Gas the rum trus
thinks it should bel and that it is &
dead letter.
The Maine law has been a live letter
enough to prevent the sale and pei
capita consumption of eleven tWelfths
of the Intoxicating beverage which is
the total average for the United
States. even with Names small tota
figured in to reduce the L. S. total.
That is why the Lightners and run
trust writer's tell you the law is bad
and is not enforced and is makins
hypocrites of everybody in Maine. ant
a regulation system tprepared by tn
rum trusD would be}much better-be
cause 1t would be enforced pre-
sumably.
Yet this man Lightner who wa
never in Maine and who knows as lit
lie about Maine conditions as the edi
tor of the Kennebeo Journal know
about Mr.. Lightners future hom'
cannot point to a single city or tow
on the map where a license law wa
EVER enforced.
The hypoeritieal writer's and work
ers for the liquor evil always avoi
facts except so far as the readers an
hearers are likely to misunderstan
them. They tell you the Maine law
unpardonably and disgracefully ba
because Maine people have never bee
dishonest enough to claim that it hs
been enforced.
Not law on the statute books ha
been enforced. Laws are eonstructe
To restrain evil. but evil is not an
never has been a dead letter" II
Maine law" has been enforced as we
as has the law against murder, lal
ceny. arson, adultery. and oth'
crimes. Why do not Mr.. Lightn
and these brilliant rum trust write
denounce Maine and her laws beeau
= these other laws are not enforce,
Because there is no money in it for t
rum trust or the writer's.
When you read these carefully wri
ten yarns attacking the Maine pr
hibitory law, just remember who
paying for them and the obtect-to 5
more rum.