Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-09

its meanings fully grasped by even
young man and boy between Fl Kei
and F'ryeburg.
We ask Kennebec Journal reader
to study this letters
Editor of the Daily KenHebee
Journal, Augusta, Maine.
Ny dear Sir
The keen interest of the resi-
dents of the State of Maine last
fan in the vote ON the retention of
the prohibitory amendent. and the
reported, although wholly in
tangible plan of securing for GER
tain cities the right to sell liquor
without State Interference, have
drawn the attention not only of
former residents of the State, but
summer residents to the present
situation. For nearly 20 years
have been accustomed to reside
for two or three months of every
year within the borders of the
State. and the extraordinarily
high regard which l hold for the
people in the community which 1t
is my good fortune to be in, has
aroused my interest in many eco
monte and social problems
throughout the State. What the
State has to gain by the admls-
sion of the legalized sale of al
cohol, no student of economics can
easily assert. No appreciate
number of the enormous flocks of
summer tourists which yearly
scatter themselves along the coast
of Maine desire a legalized liquor
saloon in their neighborhood with
its attendant disagreeable fea-
lures. 1t is more than likely that
the absence of saloons has in most
instances determined the selection
of this State for summer home.
While we may have two minds
regarding the ACCESSIBILITY of the
drift of our youth to the large
cities, it is nevertheless a fact
that when a young man applying
for position states that he is
from Maine" this is Il credential
of considerable value. A few
years ago it was reported that
when the German steamship
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse, which
at that time was the largest
steamship afioat, steamed ma
jestieally into Southampton Har-
Dor, someone had painted a large
sign which hung over the bow
reading, Made in Germany" No
one can estimate what an asset
this slogan Made in Germany
has been to German importations
into the United States. 1t is
equally true that few can realize
the fact that the man from
Maine" inspires an unusual degree
of confidence, and why? He is
usually an upright, honest, seri-
ous-minded, Woodworking man
who does not use alcoholic liquor
in any form and is not accustomed
to the saloon. Few employers of
labor recognize better Gre
Dental than this. There may be
differences of opinion with regard
to the question of total absti-
hence VS.. moderate drinking and
with regard to prohibition VS.. Ii
cense, in business, however. there
is usually very small amount of
sentiment and we must recognize
the fact that railroad companies,
banking houses, and other places
where positions of trust must be
occupied, the relation of the ap-
plieant to the use, even though
moderate, of alcoholic liquor plays
a very important role in his sue
cess.
In connection with an investiga-
ton | had occasion to carry out a
few years ago with regard to the
scientific aspects of moderate
drinking, | was very much sur
prised to note the attitude of
banking men as a whole toward
the moderate use of alcoholic
liquors by their employees. l
came to the conclusion then that
nowadays, when competition is so
keen. when business advancement
depends SO much upon true worth,
and the time honored pull" is no
longer effective. no young man
who has his way TO make can af-
ford to use alcohol, even moder-
ately. If this is the case with
young men striving to make their
way in an honorable business i'll
the large cities, how much more
must it be true and desirable in
small communities where the OPP
portunities are not as great, and
one must make the best use of all
available opportunities. Consid-
cred purely on the ground of
economics, Maine cannot afford to
admit the liquor traffic through
any channel, legal or Illegal; if she
would preserve her young men to
her representatives, in local, in
State and in the United States
Government, must throw their in
fiuence in favor of the enforce
ment of the present prohibitory
law. The influence of a high
state or national official upon the
public attitude toward these laws
is second only to that of the press.
Yours very sincerely.
FRANCIS G. BENEDICT.
Carnegie Institution of Washing
ton,
Nutrition Laboratory. Fenway,
Boston, Mass, Feb. Z, 1912.