The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-07
BIG CROWD At VOTE NO" RALLY IN
THE OPERA HOUSE SUNDAY
DR.. Geo. Otis Smith, Mrs. Livingston, Rev. F. L
Hayward, Speakers, Arguments Convincing

eating beverages that today stands In
the Constitution of Maine. Not only
are better results to be expected from
statewide prohibition, but l happen
to know they are secured"
Mr.. Smith next mentioned his ex-
ceptional opportunities for observing
throughout the country, especially by
reason of having worked in several
states for months at a time and hay-
ing hired men to assist him. He paid
his respects to the newspaper stories
about impure liquors being sold in
prohibition territory and the pure stuff
in license states and quoted the ex-
periences of his friend, Dr.. Wiley, the
pure food expert of the Government in
! finding impure whisky almost univar-
sally served in the best saloons and
hotel bars in Washington, while in
other cities wood alcohol has been
found commonly in the lower grade
saloons and dives. Next, Mr.. Smith
opposed the common argument that
| license will put stop to law break
ing. "This is untrue" he declared,
because the saloon not only makes
and educates criminals of all classes,
but is itself by nature a law breaker.
1t does not obey license law any
better than prohibitory law. Not
only do illegal saloons flourish in ev-
cry license state and CITY, but the IL
censed places violate Sunday closing
ordinances. and the law prohibiting
admission of minors. In Washington
last spring 1t was discovered that sa-
looms in the vicinity were securing
trade from young boys at recess or
noon. Do I hear anyone repeating
that old argument that we need a IL
cense law in Maine to stop nullifiea
tion and to teach respect for law to
the youth of our state? Do the faith
ers and mothers of Skowhegan want
some licensed saloons on the Island
to teach the High school boys at re-
cess timer
Next, l would nail that lie about
repeal of our prohibitory amendment
being the method of taking the liquor
question out of Maine politics Let me
assure you, that license law is the
very best avenue for the saloon to
get into politics, and that is why the
liquor interests are anxious for Maine
to vote Yes next week"
The speaker next described how
local option lined the streets of Rut
land, VT, with saloons a few years
ing drunks. He quoted the testimony
of an acquaintance, the Catholic
priest at Barre, VT, who had told
him how whenever that city voted
mo license" an adjoining village
would go wet The result of this
was the mile or so of railroad track
between the two places was soon
strewn with empty bottles and full
men, broken glass and broken man
hood, and so helpless were the pedes-
trians along this railroad it became
almost impossible to avoid accidents.
In conclusion, the efforts of the en-
gineer in charge of the Los Angeles
Aqueduct to keep liquor away from
the men were cited, and from per-
sonal observation Mr. Smith told of
that great municipal undertaking and
conditions along the line of work
camps. At one place where local op-
tion defeated all efforts of those try
ing to protect the city and Its work
men, a saloon in the sage brush was
engaged In a continuous performance
of converting honest workmen into
thieving hobos, under conditions that
could not be compared to a pig-ranch
without injustice to the hogs
Having witnessed all over the
country" concluded Mr.. Smith, 1.-The
failure of license and local option
laws to keep the saloon either law
abiding or decent, | want to see no
licensed saloon within a hundred
miles of our Skowhegan homes. That
is why | will vote No and why
urge every voter in Skowhegan to
vote No on September H."
Next Sunday evening in the Opera
House there will be Vote No raj
ly at which about twenty of the
Skowhegan citizens will give three
minute addresses. @his promises to
be one of the most interesting rallies
OF the campaign.