Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-14

before he is too far behind the pano
wagon of moral progress. The num-
ber of those whom he denominates as
"eonsummate hypocrites and num-
bugs" is growing amazingly in recent
months, although Knox county seems
not to have heard of 1t. And every
time he quotes this old form OF rum
trust hypocrisy, in the same old an
iect. servile manner, he is giving ol-
rect offence to a greater proportion Oh
decency and binding himself more
closely to the gang of thugs, Hitter
ates and conscienceless who harp on
their personal liberty"
No better example of that for Which
the Rockland Opinion stands as con-
trasted with that which the people
these "consummate hypocrites and
humbugs") demand, can be presented
than the report of Names inspectors
of prisons and jails. Read 1t, neigh
bor-Knox county under booze domi-
nation and open encouragement by
such as the Opinion, of contempt oil
law. shows increases for the year OF
25 per cent in Jail population, q per
cent. in commitments for drunken
ness. and As per cent. in total COM
mitments. Against that showing Oh
rum trust control and law-defying
sentiment, consider the results OF law
enforcement in Androscoggin county,
where an Sc per cent. reduotion III
commitments for drunkenness occurs
in territory where the percentage OF
drunkenness has exceeded that of any
other county. Just notice. Nelghoor
Otis that the average population OF
Androseoggin jail for six years mas
been los, that in 1912 it was lis, and
that in the year 1913 had an average
of only rs. Quite a triumph for
"ramrod hypocrisy" wasn't it?
Better take yourself in hand and
join the "ramrodders" for a cleanup
of Knox county, not only of booze but
of convenient small pox that aids the
booze crowd against the Governor and
Legislature Better consider to whom
you are giving offence, these days. by
characterizing them as "hypocrites
and humbugs," for they are paying
taxes, buying newspapers and voting
for laws. This year there are many
hundreds of them in the Democratic
party. They have seen the light
where rum trust subserviency has
shown its perfidy, and where law has
made good.
Editor Otis may some day discover
that the present Indignation through
out Maine arises from persistent and
wilful perversion of the spirit of the
law by those entrusted with the en-
forcement of its provisions. Official
misinterpretation of public intent is
the worst form of hypocrisy, and that
word which the rum trust and its tools
IIiOdliitO 50 iciiS StiiiCo lIohAc ~
them with tremendous rebound.
Maine has suffered perversion of it's
high purpose at the hands of dense or
deserving, trimming and grating
officials long enough. AS the Cow
cred Bridge regime was rebuked SO
must be all who still cling to Covered
Bridge methods of defeating the peo-
pies will.
The hypoerite is being convicted out.
of his own mouth, and it makes little
difference to Gods people whether he
stand in high or low public service, so
long as he disobeys the public will and
gives his time to the devil for hidden
remuneration, or allows his better
judgment to be perverted by associa
ton with those constantly harping on
the rights of an evil traffic. The
Berry case is only lesser aspect of
conditions which the people are deter
minted to correct.