Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-21

cause we must await the time when
many intelligent men are convinced
that rum is not necessary to sociabil-
| ity. And we must await the time
when public speakers and interstate
carriers in the form of newspapers are
not allowed to debauch the public for
private or political purpose. We
must await the election of a Congress
that believes the rum traffic as bad as
the lottery business.
The Argus says, editorially;
Here Is another proposition for
sumptuary legislation of the prohibition
order. The Milwaukee, Physicians Assoc
citation, having formally resolved" that
kissing is "a menace to health and de-
cency" as well as "a blot on civiliza-
ton Will attempt to secure legislation
making it a punishable offence. This
action Is not likely to be taken very ser-
ously-except by the jokesmiths. But 1t
illustrates the passion for regulating the
behavior of other people so much in evil
dence nowadays. As the New York
World says: Everybody Is now the
steward of somebody else'S welfare, and
law from doing what some individual or
set deems offensive. Never before in
fact, was there so much prating about
personal liberty along with so little re-
gard for it in others In effect. the self
constituted reformers of the moment
seem ambitious to out-Puritan the Puri-
tans in imposing blue-law restrictions
ON the public in the sllise of progressive
legislation. " And if it were possible to
make kissing a crime, what time they
would have enforcing the law Even en-.
forcing Names prohibition law would
be child's play compared with 1t.
And following is one days indiet
ment of the result OF just such attacks
ON every law that in any way restraints
men in their passions and appettes.
Below are two local paragraphs from
the Lewiston Journal of Wednesday
June 10:
Law is thing of the past in this
city," said Lewiston business man to
the Journal this morning. 1T is a
state of anarchy. If a gambling booth
should be set up in the middle of
Haymarket Square or the playground
of any of our schools it is doubtful if
a finger would be lifted by the au-
thorities to stop the outrage. Shame
is now put behind them and they are
relying upon the rum vote and the
lowest SlTdId Oh society " VIII Ill llfe
coming election. 1t is useless to say
that the Democratic party is not fully
responsible for this condition as the
primary vote of Tuesday eonclusiyely
shows. They have turned down
clean man like Henry Goss in order to
endorse the present sheriff and his
open rum shop policy On the other
hand the Republicans have nominated
a clean and strong temperance man
for that office. 1t is now a straight
line up between deeency and indie
eency ! have faith to believe that
the citizenship of Androseoggin county
will rise up to rebuke this condition of
affairs and they will do it regardless
of party lines. Scores and even hum
dreds of Democrats will vote the Re-
publican ticket this fall on this issue
alone. Men who are not lost to shame
are still with us and they are in a big
majority. Remember what | tell you,
the Democratic party and its out
rageous system will be swept from
power in Androseoggin county next
September"
1t is said that the sale of revolvers
has quadrupled in these cities since
the Bibber murder. One business man
says to the Journal You would be
astounded If you knew the number of
men in these cities who carry re-
volyer III their hip pocket Unless
some change comes soon there will be
another tragedy here. Something
will attempt to hold-up one of these
gun-men and will get the top of his
head bowed off for his trouble. AS
our authorities have invited this con-
dition of affairs we must be prepared"
This is one of the results of unbridled
license and the hideous corruption that
is now rampant in this city.