The Republican journal., 1911-07-27
1.-The Decalogue is Violated"
Striking Reply Of Congressman Littlefeld
to Critics Who Say That Prohibition Does
Not Prohibit-A Notable Saturday Night
IRockland Courier-Gazette.]

(Rockland Courier Gazette.
1.-THE prohibitory law is violated; so is
the decalogue If we repeal the former,
why not the latter?''
So spoke Hon. Charles E. Littlefield in
postofice square Saturday night. The
ex-Congressman looked down upon
large concourse of people, drawn thlther
by diversity of reasons-some because
they knew they would get straight pro-
hibition doctrine; others openly disagree
ing with his position, yet anxious to hear
what arguments he would offer; and yet
a third class of voters waiting for the
light before determining in their own
minds lust how they shall vote in Septem-
Der.
The man who faced them was one who
has travelled extensively in his own coun-
try and abroad; man who has given a
life study to this and other great ques-
lions of the day; a man who has brought
distinction to his Congressional district
and the city from which he was elected
five times to our National Legislature.
Whether they agree with him politically;
whether they espouse the same cause
that he does in the present crisis. the
people who listened to him Saturday
were impressed by the force OF his logic
and the eloquent earnestness OF his man
ner. 1t was a splendid handing OF the
prohibition side Of the question, discard
ing sentiment and appealing purely to
ones common sense.
When the appointed hour came Tor the
meeting to commence an alarm OF hre
sounded from box 81, and away to the
Southend fastened large percentage OF
Main streets gathering crowd. 1he tlre
proved to be tritiing one at the rive
Kilns, so that when Mr.. Llttletleid had
fairly launched upon his address ne had
an audience that must have numbered
close to 1000 persons.
The meeting was presided over by
Frank H. Ingraham. Seated upon the
platform with the speaker were several
of the city clergy, and number of
others Identified with the cause for which
the meeting was called. Music was fur
nished by the Boys Band.
Mr.. Littlefeld's text was furnished by
the bulletin which has been widely circu-
lated by the Maine Non-Partisan Local
Self Government League, the high-sound-
ing title of an organization which is com
monty believed TO be working for high
license and local option. He spoke OF the
criticism which this bulletin offers
against persons from outside OF this
State and Nation having any part In the
present controversy, and then turned to
another page of the bulletin, which con-
tanned long list of criticisms against
the prohibitory law made by persons who
also reside out of the State.
''When this discussion is made on the
hypothesis of the prohibitory law being
success. then they talk about the
speakers being paid and imported, y said
MIR. Littlefeld, sarcasJicaly.
You also hear it said, " he continued,
that there has been so much discussion
about the prohibitory law that the at
tention of the people has been diverted
from things more important. The trouble
is that it hasn't been discussed enough.
The people have not been properly awak-
ened to the conditions that surround
them. Some of the people who are be-
hind this propaganda referring to the
Bulletinl live here III Rockland. l chal-
lenge them to put their finger on man
who has been SO disturbed by the discus
sion OF prohibition that his mind has been
diverted from more important matters.
The real trouble is that most people after
seeing the law imbedded into our consti-
tuition were content to sit idly down anC
let few attend to it's enforcement.
The legal validity, as we'll as the wis
dom and propriety from moral anl
economical standpoint of laws CONTROL
inc and restraining the liquor traffic
have long been we'll settled by the high
est authority. In 1S47 Mr.. Chief Justice
Taney. of the United States Supreme
Court, said in opinion holding license
laws constitutional:
'4And if any State deems the retail
and internal traffic in ardent spirits IN
furious to its citizens, and calculated tt
produce idleness, vice or debauchery,
see nothing in the Constitution OF the
United States to prevent it from regulat
ing and restraining the traffic, or iron
prohibiting it altogether if it thinks
proper. Of the wisdom OF the policy /!
is not nv province or my purpose tt
speak.
Mr.. Justice Woodbury. in the same
case expressed himself more directly as
TO the propriety of such legislation. He
said: From the first settlement of this
country, and in most other nations, an
Gent or modern, civilized or savage, il
has been found useful to discountenance
excuses in the use of Intoxicating Ii
ouor." and after stating that the legls
lation in question was not apparently
designed to promote other objects thar
physical, social, and moral improve
Inent." said "On the contrary, its ten
dencv clearly is to reduce family expen
diture, secure health, lessen paupersn
and crime.
Mr.. Justice Grier, in sustaining the
legislation, said: II take this occasion
however, to remark that the true ques
ton presented by these cases, and one
which I am not disposed to evade, i;
whether the States have right to pro
bibit the sale and consumption of an ar
ticle of commerce which they believe tt
be pernicious in its effects and the cause
of disease, pauperism and crime.
It is not necessary for the sake OF justl
fying the State legislation now under
consideration to array the appalling sta
tistics of misery, pauperlsm and crime,
which have their origin in the use Oh
abuse of ardent spirits" In answering
the commercial argument he said: ''Anc
if a loss of revenue should accrue to the
United States from diminished con
sumption of ardent spirits, she will be
the gamer thousand-fold in the health
wealth and happiness of the people. "
THE great bulk of opposition to the
prohibitory law" said Mr.. Littlefield
after citing the above judicial opinions
4.nonoa from men who do not want less