Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-04-25
License q Curse.
~. R., In Lewiston Journal.)

Will you kindly print for me in your
paper few words from one Of Names
former citizens. Although loyal to the
State of Massachusetts, in which l now
live, I still remember my boyhood days
which passed in the Pine Tree State
and feel deeply interested In all those
subjects which are of most Importance
to Names present citizens. The imme-
diate cause of my writing is, that have
recently seen in the Boston papers few
extracts from Governor Plaisted's in
augural address, and from it under
stand that he calls upon the legislature
to repeal all the prohibitory laws OF
Maine. At the time of his nomination l
had the pleasure of reading his letter of
acceptance to the chairman of the state
democratic committee and it was with
some surprise that I read the clause
wherein he said he believed in resub-
mission. At that time wondered If he
really believed what he said or whether
he said it for political effect; but when
l perceived that he repeated this state
ment in his inaugural address I was
even more stirred than before. could
not believe 1t possible that any man,
deemed worthy to bear the responsible
ties of governor, could sincerely believe
in return to license, especially II he
bad ever become familiar with the ef-
fects of the open saloon. During the
past fall I had occasion to be for some
time in the state of Maine and while
there I engaged in quite q number OF
personal talks with various citizens on
this subject of resubmission. Most of
them seemed to cherish the idea that IL
cense is sort of "cureall'' for the va
rious difficulties involved in the liquor
question. Now to all my Maine friends
am going to say, that such is not the
case and if you will make few inves-
LEGATIONS you will be convinced that |
am telling the truth.
There Is not license city In Massa-
chusetts but has its dives or kitchen bar
rooms where liquor is sold illegally. No
better authority for this statement is
needed than the police records of any
city where license is granted. For TWEEN
ty-tive years I lived in prohibition Maine
and for eighteen years l have lived in
license state, in q license city, and from
personal observation, can say that ex-
perience shows prohibition to be de-
cidedly advantageous for the morals and
general welfare of any people. Let me
say at this point, that it is not due to the
people of Maine that prohibition does
not prohibit. The fault lies with Con-
gress. Stringent laws should be made
and enforced preventing the export OF
liquor for illegal purposes to prohibition
states. However, sincerely hope that
the Maine Legislature will never submit
this question to the people, but If it
does that the voters of Maine will stand
strongly opposed to it, feel assured
that they would IL they once realized
that the return to license means the
open saloon and the beer garden with
their communicating influences upon both
old and young. It also means inevitable
suffering, restitution and all forms OF
licentiousness. In conclusion I will add
that am writing as l do purely for the
sake OF the individuals of Maine as am
not connected in any way with any tenn
perance organizations or license league.
l hope that aside from the Lewiston
Journal, the other newspapers In Maine
will print copy Of what write so that
it may rouse Maine people little, per-
haps to meet successfully the grave situa-
ton which now confronts them.