Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-30
Congratulations to w. c. T. U.


perance is not a party issue and there
are just as strong and faithful sup
porters of temperance, prohibitory law,
rigid enforcement. and of the loyal w.
C. T. U. workers in one party as in
another. Indeed it has not been the
party prohibitionists that have saved
our temperance laws to Maine. 1t is
even not too severe to say that when
Maine was on the ragged edge of the
license abyss, the party prohibitionists
nominated State ticket and did all
they could to defeat the only party
that could and would save the State
from the liquor forces.
1t may seem little bitter, to some
of our prohibitionist friends, for US to
treat it in that light. but We cannot
ance voters duty. this year, to devote
every energy to the defeat of the party
pledged to destroy the laws. If De-
mocracy had won this year, Maine
would have had her record of more
than half century broken; would
have taken a step backward that a
generation could not regain.
If the Republican party, pledged to
prohibition law and enforcement of the
law, had been confident of a large
majority of the States vote, the Pro-
hibitionist course in showing its faith
would not have been so censurable.
But to risk lowering the Republican
vote when Republican defeat meant
loss of the law and continuation of the
most deplorable regime that Maine has
ever known, is about enough to arouse
the honest indignation of any practi-
cal temperance man.
IL Maine is ever redeemed from the
liquor forces it will be through the
Republican party and men and news
papers working Loyalty with that party
for better government and higher
grade of civic morals.
The Republican party leaders are,
one and all, firm believers in and 10y
al to the work of the w. C. 4. Z. They
do not, however, ask that noble organ
ization to support, in a partisan way
the Republican party. They DO be-
lieve that the influence OF such bodies
should not be used against the party
in critical political periods. like the
one just passed. =
Those forces working for the liquor
interests are hypocritically crying:
Take the liquor issue out of politics.!
because that would mean booze trl-
umph. Those promoting the liquor
traffic are active and aggressive every
hour. We ALL know that!
Now. the question arises. "can We
afford TO let so great and vital a mat
tel drop between political elections?'
We believe not. We are convinced
that the liquor evil not only should
not be taken "out of politics. but that
the war against the booze boomers
should be waged in politics and out
of politics until the economic fallacy
and the monkey-like idiocy of its use
are brought home to the mass of the
people.
Only by working together can the
better elements of our citizenship
overcome the evil. Jealousies and mar
..es.,, y,raf,,dtcass y,o1tct no nas+ aefda
Let our aim be TO put Maine where
the attorney general of Kansas makes
proclamation that the Sunhower state
is. Who of us would not like to see
Maine jails empty her courts almos
without business Of criminal nature
and her people forgetting the use fol
grand juries?
1t is not only possible but probable
it all with that desire and ambition
will work together. 1t is no time nov
to round up and listen to the sophistr
of the booze trust and its hired bench
men. We have done that too much il
the past. Our only hope of gettin
ahead is by refuting their claims
showing up from day to day thei
methods and lies. and making plain {
the young that their salvation doe
not lie in booze or allied evils.
Again we congratulate the Maine v
c. r. u. and take off our hat TO II
noble womanhood Of Maine, for II
handsome and bnsiness-iike way
which their convention at Auburn va