Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-06-21
PROHIBITION vs. LICENSE.
Paper By Franz 7. Jeliiscu, Of Scotia, wash.
read 81 meeting Of Hancock Pomona -
6urry, June O..

-
70 the OHgcers and Membsrs Of HaHcocA
Pomona Grange:
While looking over THE ELLswoRRH
AMERICAN, I was somewhat surprised to
find my name on your program for your
meeting with Arbutus grange June y.
regret that cannot be present and ans
wer to the call Of my name, but - that 10
impossible, will write down . few
thoughts to b read at your meeting.
realize that the question you have chosen
IL Of great importance, not only TO the
State OF Maine but to every state In this
great country OF ours, and to Maine all
eyes will be turned next September.
.Resolsed, That the prohibitory law 10
preferable 10 any law relating the sale OF In
toxicating liquors"
Iwant to say first that il an indisput-
able fact that intoxicating liquors are the
greatest evil in all this broad land. 1t has
repeatedly been stated by court ofnciais
and presiding Justices that seven-eighths
OF all the crimes committed throughout
the country are directly caused BY the use
OF these liquors.
There are thousands OF people in dear
old Maine, where the open saloon has not
been in evidence for so many years, who
do not know its evils. have often heard
men argue that there would not be so
much liquor drank under license as un-
der q prohibitory law. Now l want to
empathize this fact - that men making
such statements are laboring under an
awful delusion, and they are either work
ing for the interests of the liquor-dealers
or they are ignorant OF conditions existing
where license law is in effect.
Let me relate few sketches that have
come under my own observation since
have been where l could observe the
working OF law In a local-option state.
When first came to the state OF Washing
ton | worked for three months within
one-cighth of mile OF Q licensed saloon,
and during that time saw more drunk
enness than ever saw in Maine in my
whole life.
It is claimed by some that = license law
would be better enforced than q prohibit
tory law; that the saloon men would see
| to 1t themselves that the laws were en-
forced. In my observation have found
that it 10 not so. The law in this state
pro, ides that no minors shall be allowed
places are violating that law every day.
To be sure, they have signs on their doors,
mo minors allowed" yet young boys
are often there, and in one the sixtcen-
year-old son OF the proprietor il often be-
hind the bar waiting on customers.
The argument that taxes would be less
under license 10 proven false by facts be-
many miles from me, one in which the
population is not - much as that Of
Surry, was adry" by vote OF its inhabit-
ants. They had no marshal or police
officials. At their last election they voted
| the town SWEET. A saloon was licensed
and began business, and now they have a
marshal working on a steady salary OF
| $50 month, an it is often necessary to
| put on special policemen. l fail to sec
| where there was much money saved to the
taxpayer in that deal.
| One OF the judges OF Spokane county re-
| Gently made the statement that he had
presided at twenty-five murder trials
since his appointment, and twenty %!
them were directly caused by intoxicating
drink. Now, think anyone with an I'M
predjudiced mind will agree with me that
it would take quite q good many license
| fees TO pay the cost OF those trials.
| The fact that the whiskey men are all
| fighting against prohibition is one OF the
most conclusive proofs to me that pro-
hibition is right. Every man engaged in
the business is there for the money be can
make out OF 1t. and for no other purpose,
and the great majority OF them do not
care how they get that money so long As
| they get 1t. II they could make or get
| more money under prohibition than
license, you would see every one OF them
| fighting fer prohibition. But they are
not doing that; they are leaving no stone
unturned trying in every way in their
power to defeat prohibition.
Even in this far-on state OF Washington
have heard men interested in the trsffic
say that il the people OF Maine take the
prohibitory amendment from the consti-
tuition, it will be q great victory for the
liquor interests. Think Of that, my broth
ers, when you go to the polls to register
your opinion. and bear in mind that he
who votes to remove that amendment is
voting with the liquor interests, and not
for the protection OF the boys and, yes, the
girls, OF Maine. entreat OF you do not
be deceived by the willy arguments of the
crafty saloon men and there representa-.
tives.
iwouid that could look into your faces
to-day and tell you Of the many de-
bssing and shameful scenes I have wit
messed since leaving the land OF prohibi-
tion. All on account Of there being open
places legalizsd by law where men can 90
and get "booze" whenever they have the
price. Do not be deceived by the argu-
ment that better whiskey would be sold