Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-07

many other Maine editors) came a
large envelope printed across in huge
black type. the words RUSH NEWS
NATTER Within. We found ad-
vance copies of seven Hold for Re-
lease" addresses, which are to be de-
livered at the 18th annual convention
of the National Wholesale Liquor
Dealers association in Chicago. With
these addresses was a letter of beau
tifui diction sent out by the publicity
bureau of the association, from which
We reprint the following excerpts
which we have no doubt will be made
use of by all those organs in Maine
and elsewhere which are searching for
points and for verbiage in their en-
deavor to do away with the prohibit
ton law of Maine
Il enclose herewith self-releasing proof
sheets of speeches to be delivered by the
officers and members of the association
py which you will see that the Conven-
ton will advocate License Regulation
and Control of the liquor traffic.
The various news services will handle
sending you these proofs. thinking you
might care to pick out some parts of
them not handled by your wire service,
or that you might wish to use the
speeches more fully.
In view of the present unrest and dis
cord which has arisen in some sections
OF the country through the misdirected
zeal of the advocates of Prohibition
against the will of majority of the
people, we believe the activity of The
National Wholesale Liquor Dealers AS
ISOLATION In propagatng its doctrine for
licensing, regulating and controlling the
liquor traffic, will meet with the hearty
cooperation of rightly thinking people.
and that the wide publicity of the Asso-
cations stand on the liquor question.
will be productive of much good to the
people OF the country, and of local inter-
est to your readers"
In view of the type of argument
which these speakers will make, we
consider it no breach of trust to tell
our readers of some of the points
which they consider most telling. One
man starts off his address by saying:
ct must be our aim to raise the stan
dard of the saloon (nothing said about
raising the standard of the law or the
grade of morals of the public at large
and with this at heart, the Wisconsin
wholesale liquor dealers association
has requested all license boards in the
state to grant licenses on July LIST
next to such men only as are honor
able law abiding and good citizens
We deem it unnecessary to further
than suggest to the candid reader OF
such an expression that he for a mo-
ment picture to himself the honor
able. law-abiding. good citizen" who.
for purposes of gain. devotes himself
to lowering the standard of his COM
munity. dealing in the financial well
fare of his neighbors' families, and the
souls of the head of that family or it's
promising sons or daughters.
is there man in Maine today who
would be willing to see his own son
drunkard? Is there man in Maine
today who would care to take the
chances of his son escaping a drunk
ards grave by dabbling in spirituous
liquors poured out by the hands of
honorable. law-abiding and good citi-
zen liquor dealers?
Another paragraph which catches
our eye. in the speech of another
member of this notorious association.
reads Local option may be excused
only on the ground of expediency Is
there any different principle involved
in voting men out of business in a
restrictive district. from depriving
them of their property and livelihood
through Statewide prohibition" We
presume just as strong arguments
could be prepared by the paid liquor
trust writer's on the question of
whether or not burglar may be de-
prived of his opportunity to win a
livelihood at the expense of his fell
Iowmen. AS this same liquor trust
orator says. THE rights involved are
just the same" only in the case in
hand the honorable. law abiding and
good citizens" referred to, would be
9llowed to rob the family of the vic
ASVa
tie Injuries of life and the victim
himself of earning capacity. oil
strength of body. of quality of mind.
and of the soul which God has given
him.
Farther along we find quotation
from the North American Review em-
bodied in this mans address, and a.
part of 1T is: Amy rule of might Is
a tyranny, whether it be in the form
of an emperor, dictator. oligarchy or
democracy. The unrestrained rule of
the majority is as Objectionable as
that of an individual" No more eff
fective document ever has been issued
or expressed by the devotees of an
aTchy than is the doctrine which this
speaker would twist out of the care
legs words of a writer in great
magazine. When men talk of over