Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-22

STRONG ARGUMENT FOR RETAINING PRO
HIBIrIoN IN THE CONSTITUTION.

dlbITION IN THE CONSTITUIlONs
A good audience assembled in Me-
Hall Friday evening to hear Mr.. j.
Libby of Portland, who spoke under th
) favor of retaining the prohibitory amend
ment in the constitution of Maine.
Stearns' Orchestra played number o
selections before the speaking began
Above the stage was stretched larg
banner inscribed "Vote NO. Sept. IL.
A number of citizens occupied seat
upon the stage.
The speaker was introduced by Hon
James S. Wright, who spoke briefly, say
ing that he was glad to be identified will
80 grand a movement as this which haC
for its object the promotion of temper
ance. They tell us that the issue Is sim
ply whether prohibition shall remain IL
the constitution. That is not the rea
issue. The real issue Is whether we shall
have license, or prohibition which car
not be disturbed because it 10 in the fun
damental law. II would be shame to
| take step backward by repeating il
| from the constitution.
They say they want to stake the liquor
question out of politics" But they're
trying to put it into politics-into every
town meeting in every town.
Mr.. Wright reviewed the progress of
Maine under constitutional prohibition,
and made some comparisons with other
states, and closed by saying that the
saloon doesn't bring anything into a
town. 1t is all the time carrying out of
the town, and carrying down to ruin the
citizens of the town.
Mr.. Libby was then introduced, aud
spoke for some more than an hour. He
spoke earnestly and clearly with good
effect, and was heard with close atten-
ton. Only brief mention of some of his
points is possible.
II is not necessary, said Mr.. Libby, for
any one TO come here 10 tell the intelli-
gent citizenship Of Oxford County how
to vote. But come - ask you to help
US in the cities A vote here counts as
much as a vote In Portland or Biddeford.
We are facing what l consider the great
est issue this state has had since the
days of 1851.
l have travelled over this country quite
extensively, with eyes and ears open,
and as a business man | can say that
have always returned to our state with
great satisfaction. The great influence
which Maine has exerted in congress and
throughout the nation has not been by
accident. IL shows that the men Of
Maine were we'll reared. Prohibition has
not done all this. but it has played its
part in producing the conditions which
made il possible.
Some who feel that present conditions
are not absolutely satisfactory say, let us
try license and il that doesn't work bet
ter We can go back to prohibition again.
But tell you, II license should be tried,
and the liquor power once get grip on
rs, il would be many long day before
We got back to prohibition again.
The speaker secuted as utterly absurd
aud disproved by all the evidence, the
theory that the associations of liquor
men were even Indifferent to the result
here in Maine. They are putting their
money into Maine, he said, it even comes
rom London, to help break down proh'
oitiou.
We're up against crafty foe. " Al
against the stranger, who in the gu of ;
/ vscationist or canvasser is trying to
Onward the cause of license in this state. |
There are many such, under pay of the |
liquor interests, and / have met some of |
hem.
Taking up the question of illegal sales, |
he speaker said that the business is
essentially lawless, and that statistics !
md all the evidence show that there is a |
'ast amount of illegal selling in license
titles.
A strong contrast was made BY Mr.. !
Libby of the influence of the gilded .
aloon, Haunting its attractions openly !
N the principal streets, and making new
patrons out OF the boys who are drawn !
o ii, and the hidden bar room, doing
IS business secretly and uder the ban of
he law. We want to keep the business
inder that ban.
They say that prohibition doesn't pro-
,bit, said Mr.. Libby. 1t does prohibit
lot absolutely stop the traffic. But he
'ecalled conditions as he could remem-
Der them in his early days, and declared |
hat prohibition has prohibited nightly.
In closing, he urged that the contest
must mot be lost by the indifference of !
,ood Christian men. When Vermont /
changed from prohibition to license, it is
aid that there were good men enough in !
,ne county, opposed to license. who were !
Indifferent and stayed at home, to have
hing happen here.