Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-07
ARGUS Settles the Question.


= In her address before the w C. T, L,
? convention at Milwaukee. Mrs Stevens
referring to the proposition to put pro-
hibition into the federal constitution
said: Il trust this measure VIII receive
, the cooperation of the Men and Rells-
lions Forward Movement, and that they
will proclaim national prohibition a
fundamental remedy for the political, IN.
ldustrial and social unrest of the day.
The proposition of a prohibition amend
ment to the Federal constitution is too
wildly impraeticable to be taken serious
lit were practicable to put prohibition IN
Ito the federal constitution Mrs. Stevens
motion that it would prove fundamental
remedy for the present political, indus
4 trial and social unrest, is simply gro
Itesque If this statement be advanced IN
seriousness, as it is to be presumed II Is,
lit indicates profound ignorance OF the
causes and forces making for this UNI
lrest. The promoters of the Men and Re-
lligions Forward Movement are not likely
Ito respond TO Mrs. stevens call for CO.
Operation in the impossible attempt 10
bring about federal constitutional pro
Ihibition. They have more practicai aims
lin view And they could hardly take a
step more ill-advised and more caIc9-
Hated to impede the progress OF theli
movement than to tie IL up TO such a
prohibition proposition. Co-operatloh
| in such a fantastic scheme would pc
reflection upon their SOUND 1udsfiieht anu
! time by-the-way, for the prohbitionlSts
| to bring forward their federal cohstllu=
tional prohibition proposal Maine, pro
hibition's native state. has nag STATE
p years. Last September IL passed
Judgment on constitutional prohibition
and that Judgment Was was =. ooo stag az ,n,;i5
for prohibition is 1884 was wiped out;
half the counties and practically all the
cities of the State voted against it; while
40 per cent of the voters of Maine We're
too Indifferent to constitutional prohibit
ton. in spite of the, frantic appeals of
the professional prohibitionists and all
the influences they could bring to bear
40 per cent of the voters Were too in
different to go to the polls and vote.
State constitutional prohibition in Maine
is a manifest failure. 1t is doomed. But
State constitutional prohibition is sim
pie proposition compared with prohibit
ton in the federal constitution. Even If
ii were possible TO get a national ma
jority in favor of it, there is the question
of taxation to raise an insuperable OBJ
stacle. In the case of federal censtitu-
added to all the other objections To this
proposition, and it cannot be put aside
Now if State constitutional prohibition.
which is comparatively a simple matter
proves to be the failure demonstrated
how preposterous ii is to- attempt a led
eral constitutional prohibition which
would involve endless complications and
would be infinitely more impraeticable
land demoraliZing? 1t is the preposterous
dream of shallow Drained theorists
Even though SO far removed fre:n its
antecedent, Mrs. Stevens win recog-
nize in the last sentence. the gentla
compliment from her neighher Rut
she need feel no more aggrieved han
did tie gentleman kicked by an ass
The liquor interests always have wild
" Mapped their ears and exclaimed
4s,,,,,arsnt.t.t "a H.. ct4ooae.fnp Of fafltT-
ing the tide that runs their money.
| making machine; yet shallow brain
ed theorists including the leading
! minds of the world are working to-
ward the end OF universal prohibition
| of the earth's worst evil. The battle
would be half won with leading ma
ton refusing to longer recognize u
partnership with the devil.
sGrotesques as II looks 10 the organ
of eyes without number, Mrs. stevens
and other great leaders in the fight
against vice and immortality recognize
the bearing of the liquor evil upon all
| others. The Argus would not be ex
I pected 70 give unprejudiced testimony
at a trial of old Split Hoof; it's far
flung proclamations of his satanic ma
iesty's virtues are too We'll known.
Hence its denunciation of Mrs. Stew
ems words as evidence of profound
ignorance" may be accepted as ;tlus-
ter.
Whether the Men and Religions For
ward Movement elects TO attack the
devil where it, hurts worst, or not,
those who lead and frame it's policies
will do well to weigh the words of
Mrs. Stevens. OF course, if fhis move
ment expects TO make uninterrupted
and fiowery progress toward the mil
lennium, it must not interfere with
the pet schemes for enrolling imps by
the gentleman who dominates Iades.
The liquor interests and their organs
and hired henciven certainly VIII 'imz
pede the progress of the Men and
Religions Movement if ii looks
askance at the liquor traffic. f1But
evil has never vet been conquered by
the dove of peace
Ii is interesting to note the STATE
leading Democratic organ proclaifninG
its party's rum policy as its only hold
upon the people of Maine. But, real
~, quite intelligent people who do not
befuddle their brain cells with intoM-
cants, are convinced that THE stag
gering blow" dealt prohibition is like
" to be as effective in arousins 1t TO
wholesome activity, as was the same
| staggering blow" to the Repubilcah
party. The blow had been falling eN-
cry moment of all the years since the
| law was enacted, because the liquor
| interests have never ceased 10 hammer
away at 1t; while the temperance ele-
ment had ceased its activities lulled
by recognition of better conditions
| than elsewhere.
| rha A ru,,c declares with the same