Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-23
Let the People Rule"

Editor Kennebec Journal:
The Non Partisan Local Self-Gor-
eminent League organized To defeat
prohibition in the constitution of Maine
is acquiring notoriety for falsely pre-
senting the issue.
The license press of our State with
the red and black bulletins distributed
broadcast, are ringing the changes Oh
the motto Let the People Rule" The
malicious fallacy of this inference
ought to be self evident to any intel
ligent mind.
Let none he ensnared by this wiley
stratagem and made to believe thai
prohibition in the constitution de-
stroys self government, robs a citizen
of his manhood or grinds inherited
freedom under the heel Of tyranny.
Such sophistry should be exposed
and the common foe relegated to igno-
miny for such base inslnuation.
In whose hands is now deposited this
sacred trust of prohibition Did not
our fathers by the peoples votes abso-
lutely commit it to the organic law Of
our state and deposit the key In tn
peoples hands for safer keeping
Had the issue been under the control
of the legislature last winter would
not the people have been in imminent
peril?
Because the people held the key the
dlabolic purpose of the saloon was
nalted and the people must first sur
render their rights before evil designs
are made legal
There is reason to believe measures
are now cherished to call an extra SEES
sion of the legislature to regulate and
legalize the liquor traffic should the
people surrender their sacred heritage
on Sept II.
Then the saloon devil will hold ju-
biee and the prohibition banner viii
be at half mast.
| In the face of such a peril is it not
| evident for citizen to vote YES IS
| like signing his death warrant for in
yielding the key to the enemy control
lis LOST over his own affairs.
BE not deceived for God is not
Knocked" Neither are the wise fooled
by subtitle devices. The only possible
way for the people to rule, is to stand
by our colors and HOLD prohibition
lin our own hands, so a delegated body
lcannot betray our heritage to the en-
Iemy. The saloon has learned by long
Experience that legislators are suscep-
ltible TO mercenary motives; while the
lpeople at large cannot be SO easily
Iduped. 1t is a ponderous task for the
lsaIoon press to roll the wooden horse
vote Yes into all our homes, and 50
importune and corrupt the people TO
lopen this monster Greek subtertuge
land expose our commonwealth to the
ravages of the concealed enemy.
With the subtle air of an aggrieVed
leitizen. posing as though despoiled OF
suffrage rights, the villainous cry Is
lmade while the enemy laughs at their
crafty disguise Let the People Rule"
Such satanic deception ought to be
pierced by the spear of truth, and the
righteous Judgment OF heaven invoked
lupon such infamous fraud. Let the
cry be heralded by every lover of truth,
home. and native land, by every voter
who discerns the internal hypocrisy of
our foe. by all who would keep the
ldenon spirit OF the saloon out Of our
body polite.
Expe the Wooden Horse.
Drive back the concealed intrigues
land let the sacred constitution of our
fathers as Il monument to the reNered
memory OF Neal Dow. and the SAFE
guard Of our rights remain, as II IS III
the safer hands Of the people FOR
EVER. Then publish the enemy
false cry. in the interest of prohibition
as the imperative demand OF every
good citizen.
Let the People Rule!
Rule as our fathers ruled ana never
surrender power righteously bequeath-
ed to us to perpetrate the honor ana
prosperity of our beloved state.
Is it not better for legislators to bow
before the people than for the people
10 crouch before their mercy? Are not
our rights too sacred to be destroyed
by suicide2
WARNING-Let Not Prohibition
Be Lost BY Sluggish Voters!
LOOK SHARP AFTER STAY AT
HOMES! -Vermont was lost by stay
at homes in one county. BEWARE!
NJ. L. KING.
/ A,,u