Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-19


MAYORS AND CHIEFS OF Pc
LICE SWORN TO UPHOLD THE
CONSTITUTION AND ENFORCE
THE LAWS. CLOSE THEIR EYES
AT HUNDREDS OF OPEN BAR
ROOMS, AND MAKE THE REPEAL
OF THE PROHIRITORY AMEND
MENT IN SEPTEMBER NEXT
SEEM ALTOGETHER UNLIKELY"
DO you catch the significance of the
last dozen words?
The writer was undoubtedly in
structed to color his article to prove
that the present vioiators of the law
PREFER prohibition because they
can run things as they are now and
make more money than under license.
That is what they are attempting to
make the voters of Maine believe.
The rum press of Maine is declaring
it and setting it forth in cartoons,
daily. Without doubt the campaign
was planned along those lines and the
covered bridge" talk was of the same
character of other Democratic cam
paign material. The Boston American
disclosure was sprung at the psyche
logical moment" and the people of
Maine may expect other psychological
moments. on Monday one of those
psychological moment artists was
swapping the Royal Presence.
Perhaps next week. in the place of
the perjured Democratic mayor of
Portland and Democratic sheriff of
Cumberland. and the Republican chief
of police of Portland who slammed
down the lid. we shall have the Royal
Presence. the Imperial Dictator and
the Covered Bridge.
But we are straying from the topic
Former Governor Cobb has removed
himself from the ranks of the rum
trust forces and new we are wonder
ing who next of their small coterie
of distinguished supporters will desert
the iblhos IN II NC Il l. ait,
Or. Lyman Abbott, Bishop Potter or
Bob Evans?
We notice that the writer of the
Boston American expose was careful
to discredit the claims of the Faucet
Bureau. The American writer de-
scribed the help the brewers and dis
tillers are receiving from things that
are SAID 70 HAVE BEEN SAID by
President Taft. ETC.
Didn't believe they ever said it, did
he?
However, we believe that Bob Evans
said what they say he said 1t was
a matter in which he was particularly
He ought to have been an
on whiskey in those days
Undoubtedly it was harder on the
Maine coast, to supply the officers
table with "cob-webbed- DER" stuff,
than it was for the vultures who fol-
low the fleet to smuggle their cheap
and poisonous drinks to the points of
landing.
AS pickpoekets and sneak thieves
follow a circus so do those minions of
old split-hoof follow the vessels of the
American fleet. When it is announced
that a certain number of warships
are to visit Maine coast points, the
rum trust prepares to take advantage
of the probabilities. and booze ped
dlers with trunks and cases reach the
locality in advance of the ships.
One of these days temperance peo-
pie are going to see the birth of State
rights to prohibit contraband, even to
the search of baggage, etc.-or. the
growth of public sentiment against it
will drive the United States govern
ment out of the rum business. as it
was driven out of the lottery bust
ness
Gov. Cobb, in a moment of pique
and chagrin because of the opposition
which he met from those who ought
to have known better, expressed him
self bitterly to a friend. That friend.
recognizing the value of the utter
ance to interests with which he was
friendly, made it public.
We wonder how many prominent
men of Maine have not at some time,
in moments of stress. expressed them
selves contrary to the whole tenor of
their lives. We are making collec-
ton of sayings of men just now in the
public eye, and we predict that some
of them will s1ueal when quoted
verba tim in the future.
Former Governor Cobb has placed
himself right with the better element
of Maine citizenship. His course is
characteristic of his courage and
honesty. We hope others. who have
been touted as friends of intemper.
| ance, may some day gain as much
moral strength as he