The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-16
TELLS Of MAINE
AND Prohibition
NATIONAL ". g. r. U. PRESIDENT
MAKES ADDRESS IN HOUSE
OF DELEGATES.
DESCRIBES CAMPAIGN
RECENT STRUGGLE IN MAINE DE-
sIGNATED As GREATEST
PROHIBITION
RATTLE.


Maine. president of the National Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union
made an address on the prohibitory
law in Maine last night in the hall
Of the House OF Delegates. The
weather was very bad and many OF
the delegates were in attendance
either upon the smoker at the Jet
ferson or upon the concert by Tcuiz-
zinia at the Academy. AS cos,se-
quence Mrs. Stevens had n smalier
audience than would otherwise have
been the case. She was heard with
close attention and was frequently
applauded.
Speaker Richard Evelyn Byrd In
troduced her to the audience. Seated
at the speakers desk with Mrs. Stew
ems and Mr.. Byrd was Mrs. Howard
NJ. Hoge. president of the W. c. r. l..
Of Virginia.
Mrs. Stevens said In opening:
MY home Is and has always been
in the far Northern State of Maine,
but l am always glad to be in the
Southland. that section which has
given to our country jefferson, Pat
rick Henry, George Washington, John
men. / consider 1t q great honor to
be permitted to speak in this hall
and to speak on "a question of Wide
world Importance. Temperance re-
formers have much to cheer them
these late days. for there is more total
abstinence sentiment and practice and
more prohibition sentiment and terri
tory than ever before. Business cor
poratIons have %orue to the help of
the temperance cause by requiring
total abstinence OF their employees.
Scientists are declaring that alcohol
Ia n poison and should be so classed
and SO treated. Charity and correc-
tionai workers are recognizing that
strong drink causes delinquency, de-
tendency and crime"
Recent Maine Campaign.
Mrs. Stevens told In some detail
OF the recent unsuccessful campaign
IN Maine TO overthrow the Vr0nIb1-
tory law. She said in this connec-
ton:
There occurred In Maine last year
the greatest prohibition battle the
world has ever known. On one side
were tho brewers. the dlstiilers. the
liquor sellers and their allies fighting
to protect the liquor business from
prohibition. On the other side was
the clergy. the Sunday schools, the
educators. the grangers and business
men to a marked degree, SIS per cent
OF the bankers, the women and chill
dren fighting to protect the home
from the curse of the iegalized liquor
trafiic.
The liquor associations spent vast
sums OF money in the endeavor TO
secure the repeal OF the Maine pro-
hib3tory law. False statements were
81 lot na txV -
Of prohibition.
Property Values Increase.
The liquor forces claim that pro-
hihition causes poverty. We replied
that since the Maine prohibitory law
was enacted, Maine has increased it's
valuation I'VE times. while in the IL
censed New England States the val
uation had increased less than three
times. Maine has more savings banks
deposttors than voters, and the per
capita OF deposit constantly increases
80 that Maine now has $225.I0 for
every man. woman and child. Ac-
cording to the last census report the
Maine farmers are reported 10 be
the best Off OF any in the North At
lantic division Of States. Ninety-four
per cent. own their farms and 66
per cent. own them without any en-
cum brance. Tourists, who seemingly
like salooniess towns and barless no.
tells, leave in the State each year
about 10000, o00.'' -
That the temperance question was
q home question was maintained by
Mrs Stevens. who said that This fact
explained how It was that home -lov-
ing women were willing to go into
legislative precincts to seek the en-
actmenf Of laws that will protect the
home against the homes greatest
enemy.
she expressed her approval Of the
proposed Federal legislation to pro-
tect ory states from liquor shipments
under the laws OF interstate com
merce. and also OF the bill introduced
IN Congress by Richmond Pearson
Hobson looking to national consti-
tutional prohibition. .