Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-02
' GARDINER,
Strong Arguments by the
Auto Prohibition Party.
Good Audience Listens lniehly
And Intefesledly 10 Talk.
{. D. fuckers Barn In West Gar
diner Damaged by Lightning.

Facts backed up by hgufes which
cannot be disputed. were told to the
residents of this city Tuesday after
noon when the speakers from Massa =
chusetts who are touring this State in
the interest of prohibition made a visit
here The party was here early in
the afternoon for lunch at the John
son House and about 2.30 o'clock began
the. meeting. The automobile was stop
ped on Main avenue opposite Beane1s
drug store and the people who were in
waiting. for their arrival were aug
mented in numbers By many more cali
ed by the. clear notes from David
Reids cornet.
J. B. Lewis, president of the Twen-
tieth Century Pledge Signing Crusade.
spoke first and at the start refuted the,
talk that has heen made TO the effect
that the members of the party We're
hired TO do the work they are doing.
Mr.. Lewis stated that the automobile
was furnished them by private indi-
Viduals and that the speakers received
no pay for their services. For nearly
half an hour he then went on dealing
with the liquor question treating 1t
from the side of how the use of alco-
holic drinks affects men and women,
He portrayed in vivid terms pictures
of the result of drink and states that
every incident he told could be veri-
fed. For a brief time he told of the
results of the workings of the high
license and local option laws in Massa-
chusetts
Mrs. Katherine Lent Stevenson presi-
dent of the Massachusetts, w. c. T. IT,.
spoke briefly along the line that while
the opposition claim that the people IN
Massachusetts have no right to interfere
with what the State of Maine shall do.
she held the opinion that not only Mass
sehusetts but the people all over the
world Were interested in the contest and
that state lines were abolished. In clos
ing she urged the people of this city TO
join with the others all over the State
in retaining the prohibitory amendment
in the constitution
Prof. John A. Nichols. secretary of the
Pledge Signing Crusade was the last
speaker and he made a very favorable
impression with his argument. He show
ed that taken from all sides that liquor
was always in the wrong in that il rob-
bed men of their money, life, happiness
and health. The argument, which has
been heard in this city many times re-
Gently, that with high license the city
would receive money for its use. was
shown up by Mr.. Nichols who stated
F.. that while the state OF Massachusetts re-
eeiped about. s3,00a.0J last year in rev
enue a special commission appointed to
inquire into the high. cost OF. living reportr
ed that it cost over sl,000O00 to take care
Of the pauperism and crime caused by
the sale of alcohol. That prohibition for
bids but does not prevent was a state
ment of the speaker and that il does not
prevent he attributed TO the lack of en-
foreement by those who were elected TO
do the work. In connection with his arr
gument showing that there are illegal
sales of liquor in licensed places the
speaker showed copies of the Boston dai
ly papers of Aug. / with accounts
of seizures and raids at beach hotels.
where liquor had been sold illegally.
Between Mrs Stevenson's address and
that of Mr.. Nichols. Mr.. Reid sang
campaign song. Vote No." which was
very good.
The addresses We're listened to by a
fairly large crowd, but conditions were
much against the speakers holding the
attention owing To the. noises of the
street. However. they made a great inn
preston upon all who We're, able to hear
them and their visit here was much APP
preciated by those who are taking an ac-
tive part in the campaign in this city