Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-10
"Prohibition in Russia. "

pleased with themselves and the
operation Of the new law
From the standpoint OF our for,iah h,.
contemporary, a newspaper owned by
the son of Neal Dow and always de-
voted champion of prohibition, IT must
follow that. if Mr.. Blythe is right. the
vanced in civilization than are the peo-
pie of Maine for the people of Maine
have not yet seen the advantage OF pro
hibition Instead of recognizing prohibl-
ton as a blessing. they came within 700
votes of discarding the system when it
was put to the test If the people of
Russia are heartily pleased with the
operation of their prohibitory regula.
from the people of Maine who after more
than 60 years of prohibition spend
large share of their time quarreling over
the enforcement of the law. From the
standpoint of the Express it must seem
that Russia has succeeded where Maine
has failed.-Waterville Sentinel.
Our poor little innocent upriver
of the reason why prohibition is more
successful in Russia than in Maine.
Yet it is a simple reason and may be
interesting to the editor. 1t is be-
cause the "Sentinels" and such other
unpatriotic and disloyal sheets. pub
lished to discount the laws made for
the good of all the people, are prompt
ly and effectively dealt with by the
government.
In Maine a law that has been urged,
adopted and approved by a majority
of the people. is daily assailed and
lied about by the paid tools of a great
and INSCRIPTIONS monopoly. and is
nullified and abused by officials who
lars Of the same evil business.
One of the pet falsehoods of this
powerful organization the purpose Of
which is to overthrow law and estab
lish anarchy in the guise of personal
liberty" is to declare that the people
of Maine do not want prohibition"
With this evil business and its paid
tools the people, are those who
patronize the liquor interests, who
have been deluded by their sophis-
tries, who are seeking excuses to
crafty depraved thirsts and evil ten
denotes.
That among the voting class of our
citizenry there were, a few years ago.
within 700 of enough to discard the
system is the boast Of the liquor in
terests and their allies and henchmen.
Now if the 100 advantage had been on
the other side should we have been
justified in whining that the people"
did not want the law removed from
the constitution? Oh, no; of course
not. But it would have been true,
for the voters of Maine are not all
the people, There are many thou
sands of women in this State who. if
granted the privilege. would destroy
every ounce of intoxicant in the world
at once blow, and thank God for the
opportunity.
The People" of Maine HAVE seen
the advantage Of prohibition: they
want the law enforced, and they will
work for national prohibition so that
the laws of Maine may not be trodden
in the dirt by the rum trust and it's
political tools. as is being done today
THE people" of Maine do not
quarrel over the enforcement of the
law" they demand that it be on
forced, and the opposition to such en-.
forcement is the army raised by the
liquor interests to destroy the law.
In Russia the promoters of such in
1erests would be promptly sent to
Siberia to cool off.
Why did not our up-river con-
temporary give more of the facts Of
fered by Samuel G. Blythe? Why did
he not tell you that the revenue of the
Russian government from the vodka
monopoly was almost five hundred mil
lion dollars a year in our money?
Now instead of buying stuff to get
them drunk the Russians are buying
more clothes and better food and be-
6A1AlAHS W SoNc tIleI IiOIleS. MI.
Blythe says when vodka was on
sale the average savings bank de-
posts in Russia were in the neighbour
hood Of from sixteen to twenty mil
lion dollars a year-a year. not
month. In the thirty-one days Of
January, 1915. five months after the
sale Of vodka was prohibited-in one
month-the former vodka drinkers
put thirty million dollars into the saw
ings banks in the Empire. They
saved twice as much in one month as
they formerly saved in a year. This
proportion has continued since Janu-
ary." That seems to be a conclusive
argument for prohibition, and another
point in its favor in the land of the
Car is the increased efficiency Of the
workmen. Prohibition does not stop
at vodka, but includes beer and light
wines. so that all classes are feeling
the drouth. Mr.. Blythe says: There
was strong temperance movement
even before the decree. The evils Of
vodka were recognized. but fear of the