Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-06
Obadiah Gardner With Liquor Inter
ests,

F. G. FaSsett, secretary and treas
urer" of the anti prohibition League is
sending out a proof sheet of the state
ment of Obadiah Gardner on the pro-
,hibitory amendment. We have not
space to devote to that sort of litera-
ture. but we deem it a duty to inform
the readers of the Kennebec Journal.
many of whom have stood with him on
chosen on this greatest of all moral
Issues.
:. Obadiah Gardner goes over and
stands with those who blame the
law because it is not enforced They
hypocritically denounce it because
they cannot control 1t for the benefit
of their own pockets; because they
have been swindled into the belief that
the rum trust will take charge of the
politics of Maine to the material bene-
fit of the friends of the liquor inter-
ests, if prohibition can be overthrown;
because. the lull of faneied security in
temperance work has given the friends
of free rum hope that the people of
Maine will stand for the disreputable
traffic.
We are indeed sorry to see a man
who has stood for so much to the
farmers of Maine, wheedled over to
opposition to law and order. and moral
uplift.
If the Obadiah Gardeners of Maine
viii stand for enforcement of the law
as earnestly as they stand for the in
terests of the rum trust they will win
the praise and the friendship not only
of the farmers but all the rest of the
better element of Maine population.
In Mr.. Gardner's statement he says:
Prohibition as we have had it en-
forced SCENTS OF DECEPTION,
FRAUD AND CHEAT
Mr.. Gardner would have his readers
believe, first that the law is to blame
for its non enforcement. and. again,
that the license and local option sys-
tens of other states do not SMELL
TO HEAVEN WITH THE ROTTEN
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE
LIQUOR INTERESTS-lega raw
age of homes; authorized transforma-
lion of men into tramps. thieves.
gamblers, swindlers. forgers. murder
srs. etc; conversion of characteriess
men who do not drink tfor political
and money reward) into champions of
the worst evil known to man.
Mr.. Gardner does not tell us of the
deplorable conditions under local OPP
tion, high license and free rum, be-
cause the liquor interests, to whom he
is leading his services (by such state
ments as their press agent sends to
ns) desire to put one of these three in
the place of prohibition. Mr.. Gardner
would have you understand that he
believes prohibition at its worst, en-
forcement is production of more crime
than either of the systems of tenn
PORTING with the evil in their best
form. but he does not do so because he
knows every one knows better and can
prove TO the contrary.
Mr.. Gardner makes a point that all
those who strongly oppose going into
business with the devil are fanatics"
who are "intem perate" in their deyo-
t1on to opposition to intemperance.
Mr.. Gardner says that TO be cana.
bic Of enforcement law must have
public sentiment behind it," and then
he lends his strength to create senti.
heht against the law-because the
hquor trust wants to use the promi-
renee he has attained before the peo.
pie of Maine.
mr.. Gardner says: I'VE have had no
satisfactory enforcement during the
past fifty years." etc., but he knows
better than that. for he is aware that
Maine has made better showing.
morally and financially. than her sister
states because of less intoxication and
consequently less crime. better indus
Try and more savings. He knows that
ADMITTING all the political jugglery
"hicn ne claims. the prohibitory law
mas been enforced. as a whole, as well
as other laws. There have been no.
torious violations of all laws. (most of
them because of violation of the
hquor law. to be sure) but If Mr..
1Iardner and others had devoted them
serves to creating public sentiment
FOX the law instead of AGAINST IL,
me hquor law would have been much
better enforced.
Mr.. Gardner attempts a point on
exclusive clubs" and SAYS:
"sTRANGERs INDIcT US FOR DIS
HONESTY after experiencing tn.
fraud practieed in dealing with our
prohibitory law but he does not tel
axo that No cfrznuex