Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-30
Wednesday, December 80. 1914.
"Prohibi.ion's prohibi.iveness."

Inc question Oh Tue pioliAOs'Aie 49,
ity of prohibition being up again, and
speakers on the anti" side in the
Congressional debate having in effect
declared that the establishment OF
prohibition greatly increases the con-
sumption of Intoxicating beverages,
the bankruptcy report of $s,O00,ooo
Cleveland brewery is interesting.
1t is set out that when Ohio in. 1906
increased the liquor tax from 1850 10
$1,000 almost % per cent. of the sa-
looms in Ohio were closed and the
brewery company's loss of sales on
this account were 1900 barrels of beer
a year. In 1908 a county option la"
was passed, and as result of counties
going dry business fell off $1,000
barrels a year. In 1914 West Virginia
became a prohibition state, and tho
company lost 100000 of its remaining
business.
If this brewing company correctly
describes its woes it would seem as IL
prohibition and other restrictive meas
ures have some effect in lessenlng the
sale of intoxieants. Nevertheless we
may expect to hear red-nosed ieges'
leaning against the bar, soiemniy an
nounce fhic1 that they would support
prohibition except that it had nad
effect in increasing the sale OF liquor.
New York Globe.
We would always hear, too, that the
increased sales are of bad" poison.
In spite of the fact that prohibition SO
increases" the traffic, this bankrupt
booze mixer has always fought pro-
hibition tooth and nail, with the dis
tiner.es and the wholesalers.
Along the same lines we see the ut
terance of an ex-President which Will
be reprinted on millions of slips and
sown broadcast ever the land in de-
Tense of the traffic. Every home in the
land will be invaded by the false logic
of william Howard Taft that We must
submit to an immoral, hunting,
community debauching traffic or we
shall destroy local government" Here
1t is; you will receive it in your mail
in every conceivable worm. as long as
the booze business lasts, telling your
children that man distinguished by
having been President of all the peo-
pie. lifts up his voice against the abil-
ity Of the American people to make
their own laws and throw off the grip
Of human blood sucker:
lop
proposition" said former President Will
liam H. Taft, speaking before the Bar
Association at Boston Monday night,
Dec. 2s. 1T would revolutionize the ma
put on the shoulders of the government
the duty of sweeping the doorsteps OF
every home in the land. If national pro-
hibition legislation is passed, local gov
eminent will be destroyed. And II you
destroy local government, you destroy
one of the things which go to make a
healthy condition of the national govern
ment." 4
AS reasons for his opposition to ma
tional prohibition Prof. Taft said:
TT is enforceable; it is a comics.
sion on the part of state governments OF
inability to control and regulate their
own special business and duty; IL the
matter were placed under federal con-
troll it would result in the creation of a
machinery of government officials large
enough to nominate any president ana
would offer too great an opportunity TO
persons seeking to perpetuate their
power in Washington"
If Mr.. Taft would think for a mo-
ment that the federal government Is
now not only NOT sweeping the
doorsteps of every home in the land,
but is in the business of befouling the
doorsteps of local governments" that
are struggling to be free from the
liquor business, he would voice ex-
pressions that the moral element OF
the country's citizenship could quote.
For. lust SO long as the federal gov
eminent encourages the violation OF
the peoples local government" laws,
the liquor interests will triumph.
Let us ask Mr.. Taft this question:
rs It any worse to destroy the local
government initiated by the rum trust
and voted into existing laws by the
buns, thugs, bar tenders and mistaken
personal liberty citizens, than it is to
destroy the local government of dry
towns and prohibition states that are
raided by rum trust smugglers, and
abused by federal revenue measures p
Again: why is it that rum trust
law makes for such healthy condi-
tions' of the national government?
And once more: IF the scattered
local governments have been able TO
enforce their laws well enough to put
such as the Cleveland brewery out Of
business, would not national restric-
ton be enforceable enough to do
away with more Of the business that
menaces the doorsteps OF every home
In the land?"
OF course the liquor interests and
their friends will never admit that
laws shutting off their rich returns
could be enforced. but We are conf
dent Prof. Taft will live to see the
day when the immortality manufac-
tories Of this country are suppressed
by the people And it certainly WILL.