Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-12
Prof. Nichols Address.

BiddCtOrd, sunday AFTERNOON. fTo'
fessor John 4. Nichols of Boston. dis
cussod prohibition in Maine. and the
regulated rum traffic that comes I'M
der local option high license, such as
exists in Massachusetts.
The speaker devoted great deal OF
his address to the Massachusetts IL
cense plan. explaining how 1t mas
worked in that state since the system
was adopted, more than 80 years ago
He declared that Governor Talbot
was defeated for reelection because
he stood firmly against the liquor evil,
and that Governor CASTOR, under
whose administration the high license
law came in force, quickly signed the
bill when it was presented to him
Professor Nichols showed that since
high license was adopted the rate OF
drunkenness has increased every year,
and he gave figures to prove it. He
said that last year there We're $4,000
arrests for drunkenness in the Bay
State, and of this number $1,000 were
arrested in Boston. He explained the
changes that had been made in the
saloen law in the state since Govern
or Gaston's time, and stated that in
spite of lessenlng the number of sa-
looms and raising the price of licenses,
the court and police records show that
the rate Of drunkenness is steadily in
creasing.
Professor Nichols called attention to
one point in connection with the
law in which Maine is
interested, when he declared
that that state was largely respon-
sible for the fact that the prohibitory
law in Maine is only partially en-
forced. He declared that We're it not
for Massachusetts and its wholesale
and the interstate COM
merce law which permits shipments
of liquor from Massachusetts into
Maine, this State would be as dry as
Democratic leaders have declared they
would make it. And still more sig
nificant, coming at this time, and In
the light of certain political events,
was his declaration that the wholesale
in Massachusetts are work.
ing in entire accord and sympathy
with those in this State, who are try
ing to get rid of the prohibitory law.
He said that these wholesale rumsel-
lers will food Maine with their mon
ey in order to accomplish their pur-
pose.
1t may be argued in some sources
that Professor Nichols is only a tenn
perance lecturer, and that his statis-
ties and his sensational declarations
are hatchei UP by the temperance ele-
ment without foundation in fact. for
the sake of winning new converts to
their cause. But who among us has
not had evidence that every word of
Professor Nichols address is gospel
truth? And who does not know that
the wholesale liquor dealers are and
have been flooding this State with
in order to defeat the prohibit
more millions out of their devilish
traffic. at the expense of the Pine Tree
State
This could only be brought about by
boosting into control the long time
and well-known enemies of the pro-
libitory law--the Democratic party.
The fight is being made for resubmis-
sion on the argument that it is right
and honest" to give the people a
chance to say whether they are in
favor of the repeal of the present law
and the substitution of a high license
law, like that in effect in Massachu-
sets. But who of us imagines that
il a great majority of the voters of
the State of Maine should vote for the
repeal of the prohibitory law, that
such a vote would represent the heart
ard brains of the citizenship of the
State of Maine-the women and the
children, who feel the effect of the
drink evil more than any other? Are
they to be fairly represented in this
vote to flood Maine with the liquid
which rObs wives of the love and pro-
lection which they deserve, and inno-
cent little ones of the food and cloth
ing to which they are entitled?
This is what Democracy, acting for
the wholesale liquor dealers, is pledged
to carry out.
lIneta