Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-22

soriations-that the first day would
sea all manner of carousals. But II
: did net. Conditions were worse than
they had been under prohibition but
not nearly so bad as they had been be-
fore the fire 1t took several weeks
for the business to reach its normal.
And this is the way the newspapers
explained IT;
With the inducement to drink out OF
their way, multitudes had forgotten
that they wanted liquor and ii there
had been ne one to push the trade
most of these would not have tasted
the stuff again. But with a saloon on
| every corner and between, liquor in
the restaurants and grocery stores,
men advertising and pushing their
wares on every side. the consumption
of liquor was soon at high tide.
That is what the liquor interests
wish TO establish in Maine! They wish
10 make the saloon a legal business.
and to have the right TO advertise and
push business. and 10 plant their traf-
fie under the nose and under the eyes
of every citizen.
Newspaper men are aware that ad
vertising pays. There is no business
SO small or so mean that ii cannot be
increased by judicious advertising.
Tie liquor interests outside of the
State of Maine are not dumping SO
many thousand of dollars into the
State TO overthrow Names prohibition
law for the fun of the thing They
are after dollars and cents. and the
surest way to get those dollars ard
cents. which they know. is to increase
their traffic in intoxicating liquors re-
CARELESS of the number of men whom
they rob of intelligence. or the num-
Der CT homes from which they steal
the sanctity.
Who. do the people of Maine think,
finances the campaign which corrupts
both press and politics in the effort to
saloon upon a community where the
majority is opposed TO it? II is GER
tainly not the men who want to drink
but the men who want TO sell the
drinks. And then they cry hypoerit-
ically; Cannot the people be trust
ed ="
According to the American Issue, re
cent dispatches announced that Kan
sas was likely 10 have her prohibition
fight all over again. 1t was said that
the battle lines We're forming and that
the enemies Of prohibition were en-
trenched in scores of communities |
Following that came the statement |
that: THE Manufacturers, and Bust |
ness Mems Association, with head |
quarters in Milwaukee ard Chicago. is |
credited with forcing the fight ON pho |
Inhibition" tHow like our own State
organization under The high sounding
title of Names Nen-Partisan Self
Government League
In the Kansas case. the announce
ment let the cat out of the bag. 1t is
not the thirsty ones in Kansas who
are to attempt II overthrow the pro-
h1bitory law there, but the brewery |
barons in Chicago and Milwaukee, For
the sake of the trade they would force |
their poison upon the people of Kan
sas whether they want it or not
Against this greed for gold, which is |
constantly seeking TO exploit the pos
sions or weaknesses Of men, moral |
suasion is not sufficient defense |
Moral suasion might be able TO DEAL
with the diseased and depraved drunk |
ard and with its own boys, and all |
those who are likely TO seek and to |
find intoxicants, but moral suaslon
hnds IN the powerful, law defying IL
quof barons who are doing a business
OF hundreds of millions of dollars an
nualiy an enemy beyond its power. |
only law with a penalty attached |
can deal with this factor. Back of ii |
all is the goid-greedy brewers and the
makers of booze, whose business it is |
TO Create demand for the stuff they
wish 10 sell. That is what requires |
the strong arm of the law TO fight |
And that is why Maine should main |
tain that strong ann in its constitu-
ton.