Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-15
figures That Can't Be Disputed.

Editor of Kennebec Journal:
At the close of a recent address on
Prohibition" gentleman who said he
was temperance Democrat and an ear
nest supporter of our present prohibitory
law, shook me very cordially by the
hand and inquired if Ex-Congressman
Charles Il. Littlefeld's article in a recent
issue of the Christian Herald which
had referred to in my address had been
published in book form, and / told him
that | was not aware that II had. Now
| want to call the Journals attention to
this matter for / believe that this bril-
liant comparison of Maine under Prohibit
ton and Massa chusetts under local OPP
ton which facts Ex-Congressman Little
field gathered from United States official
reports should be published in book form
and sowed knee deep throughout our
State-In my opinion his article contains
some of the most solid facts concerning
the wonderful progress of the State of
Maine under Prohibition l have yet seen
in his coinpa rison of Maine with Mas
sachusetts he was comparing Prohibit
tion State with commonwealth that en-
joys the best of municipal local option
laws of any state in the Union-and l
desire to eondense into a few paragraphs
some of his solid facts, which goes TO
prove that while massachusetts is
good state under local option, yet Maine
is far better State under Prohibition.
In 1850 Maine had a per capita wealth of
$40, while in 1910 after so years of Pro-
hibition she had reached a per capita
wealth Of $9S0-here we see an increase
of nearly five times while Massachusetts
on - 10 of ca
of wealth during the same period Be-
tween 1880 and 1900 1t is notable that
Maine Increased by 1924 per year the
average amount paid her wage workers,
as against the gain of Massachusetts,
which was only sS7 Nearly 70eo of the
farmers of Maine own their farms, while
in Massachusetts only 539o own or hold
them. The death-rate from alcoholism in
Maine in 1900 was % per 10000 of
population per year, while in Massachu-
sets the death-rate from the same cause
In 1850 was 6S per 10000 or three times
the death record of our State. We have
for every lO0000 of our population. only
n prisoners, or 5l2 in all. while Massa-
chusetts has 1927 prisoners. being 233 for
every 100000 of population, or three times
as many as Maine-Maine had $50 inmates
IN our insane aSNlufnS In l9u3, or 10 per
100 000 Of population. while Massachusetts
had 1913 or 2SS per 100 600, or over twice
as many in proportion as our State had
The average per capita of people own.
ing their homes in Maine free and unen-
numbered is 40 per cent. while in the Ii
cense states of New York. New Jersey
and Pennsylvania, the record is only q
per cent Thus it will be seen by this
brief comparison that Maine is the most
temperate and prosperous State in our
nation today. but place Maine under
license law. which is a sin against God
and man and a damning blot upon our
civilization and We could not show up
such solid facts concerning our grand old
State we do today. Let us not be de-
ceived. prohibition has counted more for
the happiness of our homes it has weigh
finance than all other questions that
have come before our people of whatever
name-and l earnestly hope on election
day next September that Maine. where
the white flag of Prohibition was flying
to the breeze in all the world, will be the
powder magazine which shall shatter
the hopes of liquor men forever on our
soil-ALet the signal go forth
Close ordersi Forward march-and a
glorious victory will crown our efforts.
Signed FRANK w. GOWEN.
WateTville, June IA.