Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-08
H. "OI'fo !.
Woodfords. Me. Sept. 6.
Honest With Himself and Others.

Editor kennebee Journal:
I wish to give evidence that tho pro-
hibitory law prohibits as much as
other laws prohibit for what they are
intended, for l have been a drinking
man in the past. | can judge on both
sides better than one whos has never
drunk much. In the cities one cannot
see the effects of the law, but in the
country towns rum shops are almost
unknown. Before the prohibitory law.
there were six rum shops in Windsor,
about as many in Somerville, and so
on to Belfast. Now l know there is
none sold in Windsor or Somerville or
on the way to Belfast | tried hard
to procure rum in Belfast and found
1T almost impossible to get one drink,
where once there was a dozen or 20
before the prohibitory law. People in
the country towns that want rum have
to go to the cities or send to the Bos-
ton rum shops for it. The law has re-
duced the sale of rum in the farming
towns 90 per cent. Every town will
have a few cheap rowdies, but if the
law would be put in force in the cities
these men that cannot govern their
appetites for rum would keep sober
from necessity. Let anyone that has
any regard for the good of his State
and people look at the wrecks in our
cities If the sale of rum can be
stopped it will prevent thousands more
such cases and redeem some of the
fallen to some extent
Mr.. Editor, wish TO say a word to
you. There are a great many voters
in the country towns that are inclined
to vote for change simply because
the laws have not been enforced in the
cities. They are highly respectable
and thoroughly temperance people.
Now. If you can publish something
that will cause them to think that the
law viii be enforced, more strongly
than it has been in the past prohibit
ton will get a great many more votes.
] don't think there is any one point
of argument that will bring as many
votes to prohibition, as to cause the
better class of people to believe that
the law will he enforced much more
strongly than it has been in the past.
l have talked with good many of
the best men in the country towns. If
they can be made to think that the
petty lawyers and doctors and drug
gists cannot leave loopholes to favor
the cheap rum seller, you can get votes
enough to sustain the present law.
This is more essential than anything
know.
/ have been drinking man in the
past, hut still / have always voted on
the side of temperance. A man must
be selfish brute to vote to destroy a
million men, women and children, SIM
ply so he can get few gallons of rum
a little cheaper and easier. For the
last five or six years l have drank but
a very small amount of liquor. For q
few old people, and for medical pur'
pose, would do so, but it had better
be annihilated than have it as 1t has
been in the past. This may hurt 9
few, out will benefit thousands, for
Mr.. Editor, nothing but the fear o.
punishment will stop the rumsellel
from selling poison rum. One year il
jail does not terrify him; it must bt
two or more years in states prison
and no loopholes in the first offence
we. need the old Yankee blue laws 9
colonial days. f.. F.
I Windsor, Me-. Sept. G