Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-20
A Word 10 the Wise.

pretty well known Maine men are
publicly enlisted as allies of the rum
interests ''~.-.Ala- " . 81
We have noticed it. In addition
to the nineteen distinguished gentle
men who have allied themselves with
the moist cause, TO fight for repeal
OF the prohibition law, il is under
stood that there are about 80 others
in the State But in the whole list
of so names given, very few are found
that you would not expect To find on
that side of the question.
Occasionally, In the fight for the
home and UNFOLDING of the law and
maintenance of moral standards,
men bob up who have not been ex-
der against the rum interests. But
that so few are found in this So
called Maine Non Partisan Local
Self Government League" that the
general public would not expect To
find in opposition to the principles
which the prohibitory law represents,
is surprising.
But we are in a measure surprised
that some of these men of marked
ability and recognition in their local
communities, who have sons just
stepping into the age of manhood's
activities or still younger than that,
should care to ally themselves with
a cause which, If successful may lead
to the undoing of the boys of whom
they are now so proud.
How a lawyer can pretend to be-
lieve there are better ways of dis
posing of an evil than by laws agains,
it, is beyond understanding.
Not even member of the
Maine Nom Partisan Govern
ment League" denies that liquor is
an evil.
They say. in effect. that some other
way is better than the Maine way
because the State, counties and
municipalities might share the profits
with the rumseller @
They cannot say that any other
system, at its best, ever made the
evil any less than under prohibitions
worst. because all statistics are
against them.
They cannot claim that men who
handle liquors will be any more hon
more faithful under any other ar
rangement, because it will be the
same men who are now engaged in
the business.
But prominent men" take sides
AGAINST THE SANCTITY of
THEIR OWN HOMES for a political
purpose. or for money gain. We ask
If they do not deserve to reap in
their families what they are willing to
infiict on others?
A few years ago the present editor
of the Kennebec Journal was a mem
HNi VI titr 'toiA VI TIC A<NHiStch Jun
nal, and acting as city editor at the
time to which he would now refer
One afternoon, man we'll past mid
die age came into the office and in
husky tones with tear dimmed eyes,
begged that the name of his son, who
had been arraigned that morning in
the local police court on charge of
drunkenness and riotous conduct, be
omitted from the columns of local
news. He told a pitiful story of that
sons life from boyhood; how time
after time he had wrung the hearts of
his father and mother and several
beautiful sisters. He had been
possessed TO go wrong and, in spite
of all that loving family could do
and the Influences that a home of
wealth and comfort could throw about
him, he had gone to ruin, and was dis
grazing the other members of the
family at the same time he was
breaking their hearts.
The old man wept as he related this
story. and his voice was al times al
most inapdihie, The heart of the city
editor was touched and, although it
was contrary to the rules of the Of
nee. he suppressed the name of the
erring young man-for the fathers
sake.
Pitifui. wasn't it,
But there is more to it. The edi-
tor soon learned that the much to- be
pitied old man was the most persis
tent aud notorious rum seller that
Lewiston ever had. He had constant
ly violated the laws and aefied the
better element Of the public. II,
had accumulated fortune in the run
business and had, undoubtedly, ruined
more sons and destroyed more homes
thousand fold than his neck was
worth.