Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-08


that the impression was given that
the whole organized labor movement
| of Maine was in favor of the open IL
censed saloon. What proud record
| that is for us to make. and what a high
regard the civilizing forces all over the
country must have for organized labor
| in Maine and the labor movement in
general! Shame on whoever is respon-
sible for this great crime
Now these same interests are plying
their dcvilish schemes in Maine and
Well known labor men are being of
| fared big money to espouse the cause
Of the acme wreckers. Will they sue
coed? No, not by the votes of work.
| ingmenl What have we to expect
| from the licensed saloon? In what way
are We indebted to the rumsellers +?
What have they ever done to make
our struggle for existence any EASIER
| Nothing. on the contrary they are our
deadliest enemies, who thrive best
when they bring degradation poverty
and ruin to our homes.
1t is not a question of non enforce
ment of the law, the law is not re-
| sponsible for this. 1t is charged that
our child labor laws are violated. but
| we would not advise as a remedy for
| this the abolishment OF tile law 1t is
not 4 question of politics for men of all
parties are declaring for the retention
| of the law. Argue the subject from
| any standpoint, color it as we may.
| the great question for us To answer is.
VIII we as working men, by our votes.
fasten upon our fair state the best
that the sun shines upon. the terrible
curse of the debauching, degrading. Ii
censed rum shop? 1 say NO, and I
am sure that | voice the feelings of the
great majority of the workingmen of
the state / am no temperance crank
but upon this issue there is no middle
ground. / shall vote and use what in
fuehee l have To keep the prohibitorv
amendment in the Constitution, and [
shall do this because | honestly be-
ileVe that TO license the rum traffic in
the State of Maine would be the great
est curse that could be inflicted upon
us.
1t is said by the enemies of prohibition
mat the law causes nulllication, hypoe-
rsy, graft and several other criminal
performances that are always associated
with the liquor business. l don't know
that these charges are true. but | do
know that under license of any form con-
ditions will be great deal worse than
have ever seen them during nv 45 years
residence in Maine.
l lived until / was IA years of age in a
city where the licensed liquor saloon had
full sway. Rum could be had for few
cents per pint and other liquors in pro-
portion. Whole blocks of buildings were
used as licensed saloons and dance halls.
and child though l was the scenes that
witnessed and passed through during
those years of my boyhood are indeliblv
imprinted upon my memory | we'll re-
member the enticing influences of those
places, especially upon boys of my age
The fascination of gazing at the pictures
on the bottles in the windows the at
traction of the music froa the dance
halls in the rear of the bar rooms, the
whirling figures of debauched men and
degraded women staggering over the
floor in the drunken frenzy of the dance
the coarse and vulgar songs and the in
evtabie row would furnish material TOR
drama such as Zen Nights in a Bar
Room" God forbid that my vote should
ever be given To establish and legalize
business that will place within reach of
the boys and girlseuf .daine, my children
and your children, temptations such as
these. l am not sure what my fate would
have beer had | continued to live under
those influences, but good fortune brought
me to the State of Maine where up to the
present time my eyes have never fallen
upon the aluring sign saloon" or
Groceries q Liquors sold here"
Some of my friends may think that |
am putting this a little too strong but
not so. l could make it much stronger
and supplement it with the experiences |
have had in the many places have
visited in the different parts of the United
States did l care to 40 So Who among
us does not know of some friend or ac-
Quaintance who has come to an unfortu-
nate or untimely end through the damn
ing Influences of intoxicating drink We
are not going to vote for a continuance OF
present conditions. No, we want some
thing better.
/ firmly believe that prohibition Will be
re-affirmed and that the men who have
ing politics with it for their own selfish
ends for so many years, will throw off
their mask of hypocrisy and backed by
est and effective enforcement of the law
Then from ont the threatening darkness,
Maine will come forth still wearing upon
her fair brow her proud motto, Dirigo.
for prohibition, ! lead.
Workingmen once more | appeal to
you. not because we are the ones who do
all the drinking. but because we are CON
sidered to be the legitimate prey of the
rumseller, and the ones to suffer most
| from the evil effects of the open saloon
| No man with family to support who
works for day wage can pay toll to the
saloon without doing an injustice TO his
| family, and for this reason should vote
against it,
During the past few months 49, 900 opera
| tives of the textile industries were laid
off for some weeks and many of the mills
| are continuously running on short time
| the reason being that there is an over
production of cotton cloth. At the same
| time there are thousands of women and
children with scarcely clothes enough to
| cover their nakedness. If fractional
part of the millions that are pushed over
| the bars for booze was spent for cotton
|