Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-30

against which legislation has hitherto
proved unavailing. The fiy-by- night
druggists disregarded it when they
knew their man" and felt that their
sale could be transacted with profit
and in perfect safety. Thus the new
drug law, in its multiple workings,
should prove an effective destroyer of
vice and a distinct aid to honest
business-Boston Herald.
1t would seem, from this, that the
same problems of Illegal selling of
liquor arise under rum trust "regula-
ton" as under prohibition. 1t is
claimed by officers and those in good
position to know, that the chief Of
tenders in Maine today are the drug
stores, where a small supply of
liquors is almost impossible of dis
covery by searching officers. OF
course the bootleggers we always have
with us, as long as the mail order
business is tolerated and small lots
can be shipped into the State TO Tom,
Dick and Harry, without being Of
ficially and publicly listed, or until
penalties are provided and inflicted
that are intended to put an end to the
business.
A drug law for Maine along similar
lines to the new law of Massachu-
setts would be a splendid step for
II,
does not regulate. and it has set
about remedying the evil. The law
against Illegal selling of booze and
drugs is a dead letter in Massachu-
setts at the present time, in spite of
the claims of the liquor interests and
those working for them. The new
law will make it possible TO do away
with many Of the imitation drug
stores, but not with the pocket ped
dlers or the dope smugglers because
they have their headquarters in H.
censed saloons on every hand
The farce of regulation" in Mas
sachusetts is as pitiful thing as ever
Knocked Christian civilization. Read
the following abject mimicry of liquor
trust fallacies and untruths, and
compare it with the facts. The clip
ping we make from Mondays Port
land Argus, quoting itself and the
Springfield Union:
Cnt1a ,nptt tH4
reference of the Springfield Union to the
failure of prohibition. this paper pointed
out that the Springfield Union spoke
from experience: that Massachusetts
proved disastrous, and that the common
wealth was intelligent and open-minded
enough to recognize the fact and to sub
stitute system more in accordance with
common sense and the American princi-
pie of local self lf-Government We further
adverted to the fact that Massachusetts
was not alone among the New England
states in profting by the lessons of ex-
perience; that every State in New Eng
land had permanently abandoned prohi-
bition for some form of local option and
iicense-every State with the sole ey-
ception of Maine, and that even Maine
| is beginning to learn wisdom on this sub
| tect, shown by the fact that prohibition
has lost the hold IL once had on the
State. and is now fighting for its life in
steadily losing struggle. That this sur
vey Of prohibition in New England is
correct is fully corroborated by the
Springfield Union in the following edi-
torial comment:
THE Argus is of course an anti
prohibition organ and is arguing for the
side of the cause Ii espouses but its
statements are, nevertheless true in every
particular. Massachusetts and the other
New England States have had their trials
of the prohibition farce. and while some
were not as quick as Massachusetts, to
abandon il, all of them, with the excep-
ton of Maine, have followed in her foot
steps. That Maine will do likewise with
in few years is not to be doubted
The success of rum trust law in
| Massachusetts lies wholly in the de-
gree of profit to the liquor interests
OF course every one knows that the
liquor traffic in Massachusetts is not
confined to licensed dealers. To pre-
| tend that II is would be arrant nom
sense. Then, at the start "regula-
| ton" is proven to be not what it
claims to the people, but is just what
it was intended to be in its inspira-
| tion-it is a success" for the liquor
traffic, because the more it is violated
| the greater the profits of the busi-
ness.
| None can deny that it is impossi-
Bile to prevent or in any degree limit,
| the illegal traffic in intoxicants in
| Massachusetts,. Liquor is every
| where, In all kinds of licensed and un-
licensed places; in everybodys
pockets. teams, automobiles and
homes. Where would officers of the
law begin at suppression, even were
they so disposed? But they are NOT
disposed to interfere except insofar as
it returns graft to them. Maine,
with all its notification, of which all
are aware has never seen a 1.-THE of
the graft and notification existing in
every license state.
And yet, every day, these liquor
promoting hypocrites point to Maine
| in derision and repeat their lies about
| the success of "regulationn-suc-
cess for the liquor makers and SELL
ers!
l.