Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-01
A Few Why's.

Editor Kennebec journal:
There seem to be three points used
as argument against sustaining the
prohibtory amendment-the lack of
enforcement, the money derived from
~lteenses. and the cry for local option.
ito give Maine people a chance to
make their own laws
Why isn't the prohibitory law en-
forced? Why has a man chance to
enter a family, and mar the fair name
of one of its daughters and go I'M
punished Why do the citizens OF a
town watch a man play false to his
wife and family. strip the home of all
he can lay hold on and then leave
them TO their fate. while he shares
the spells with the partner of his in
fanny. Because decent people do not
want to be mixed up with such af-
fairs-deeent people prefer to mind
their own business.
a rending cry goes forth against
hypocrisy, but bad as il is, il has one
redeeming feature, hypocrite has
either a sense of shame or an ambi-
tsn to appear better than he really
is a person who will advertise and
make attractive for his own gain
something which does no one any
good. and which ruins individuals.
homes and immortal souls is worse
than a hypocrite, for he has lost his
SENSE of shame and his ambition to
stand for anything which is good UNI
less it serves his selfish purposes.
The cry goes forth to regulate" the
rum traffic. How? Some licenses will
be collected, but will a saloon keeper
after he has paid for the privilege OF
selling liquor be any more scrupulous
about obeying the conditions reguiat-
ing his business than the hypocrite
who is taking his chances of selling
against the law? Who takes the risk
OF fines and imprisonment? The sa
loon keepers license must be paid
somehow. 1t requires good business
ability to. make any business yield
good dividends, but the saloon keeper
must do more than this, he must be
able to produce not only profits Rom
his business but a license also, and
from an article which is of no bene-
fit to the consumer. His patrons, too.
are from the ignorant, the weak or
the dissipated, those who can be per-
shaded to spend their substance for
that which is not bread"
So, considering the character of his
business. his extra profits and his
class of customers. you must allow
that he will have temptations to COM
bine INSCRIPTIONS methods with his
business sagacity. If our officials en-
force laws only when forced to do so,
and people continue to prefer to mind
their own business and do not enter
complaints, the saloon keepers have
it their own way just as the "hypo-
| critics" do now, only more so. The
Sturgis commission had the advantage
of dealing with strangers which is
| far easier than overhaulng ones next
door neighbor. We are not paying
sheriffs TO do nothing and they should
expect to face disagreeable tasks.
out of sight out of mind is a
saying weighted with truth. A moth
er usually does not put forbidden
candy in an attractive dish within
reach of a child.
Our Divine Teacher taught us to
pray Lead US not into temptation"
Again it is better for the child so far
as possible to believe in and look for
the good In people, The heavy drink
ers, the down and outers'' do not at
tract boy. The Spartans made their
slaves drink in order to disgust the
boys and they were taught that total
abstinence was necessary as one
means of acquiring the splendid ply
siaue for which they were famous. 1t
is much more shocking to see man
intoxicated who has been moderate