Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-24

paid on all merchandise. mineral PROG
ucts, mines. jewelry. watches and CLOCKS
gold and silver plated ware, manuiaG;
cal instruments, agricultural implements.
and agricultural products assessed.
The above does not include the value
Of distilleries. bonded warehouses, ,r real
ieries Nor does 1t include the value Of
breweries and Of real estate and person
ally connected Herewith. These classes
lions lie sfV Of Sollars, in addition to bonded
liquors mentioned above.
And thus we learn that if Kentucky
cannot go on forever with its human
ity- destroying traffic it must cease
living, be wiped of the map. end its
unhappy career in a flash of hatred for
the world-and the rest Of humanity
is asked to martyr itself to save Ken
lucky. From the rum trusts own
figures the state Of Kentucky can only
exist by perpetuating its partnership
| with the devil; it must live on the
misery it can supply the human hap
piness it can destroy, the goodness it
can pervert, the souls 1t can crush.
Lot those who take stock in this
liquor trust whine read the declaration
of THE Spectator" the life insurance
publication, on the "Cost Of the Liquor
Traffic" 1t is significant. coming
from such q source. the report that up
wards Of 500 physicians Of Philadel-
phia signed q statement. that the tax.
payers of Philadelphia have to foot a
bill of more than 100000 a year as
result of the evils Of the alcoholic
traffic. This statement was sent to
each member Of the legislature while
the (local option) bill was pending.
A chart accompanied this statement
showing a total expense to the taxpay-
ers for operating the various depart
ments Of the city and county govern
ment. In each department the per-
centage of expense due to alcohol is
given. In the Department of Public
Safety the expense attributed to alco-
hol is given at SO per cent, represent
ing $2,267, $50. In the Bureau of Cor
rection the percentage charged against
alcohol in the operation Of that insti-
tuition is placed at %. Robert Nc
Kenty, warden of the Eastern Peni-
Tertiary. places the percentage Of ex-
pense due to alcohol in the operation
of that institution at so. and the same
percentage is charged in running the
county prison and the district attor-
ney's Office. This expense Of $3,000.-
900 a year represents one-tenth Of the
city's revenues and is far in excess Of
the money paid to the treasury for
liquor licenses. OF course, these fig
ures take no account Of the misery
| which cases Of alcoholism represent,
but simply the direct expense to the
taxpayers. These figures were pre-
pared at the request of Governor
Brumbaugh, who strongly favored the
local option bill, which. while defeated
| in the legislature which has recently
adjourned. it is confidently believed
will be passed at the next session.
OF course our readers, who would
oppose local option in this State be-
cause Of it's being one step nearer the
rum trusts idea of heaven, must re-
member that local option in Pennsyl-
| 10 no
hibition Under local option, Phila-
delphia or any other city or town
could put the saloons out of business.
The liquor interests are fighting the
local option law to the last ditch. Can
you imagine why?
1t is significant that 500 physicians
are now attempting to undo some Of
the injury they have wrought by
teaching the illiterate that booze is a
cure-all. They are now telling the
truth.
"A great deal of drinking is due to
the DOCTORS" said Dr. S. P. Kramer, the
famous Cincinnati brain surgeon. in
advising the formation of a booze
study society of Ohio physicians. In
the past the doctors have prescribed
whisky for typhoid fever patients;
brandy for those with diarrhea and
beer for prospective mothers. The
doctors are not doing it today, and it
is the duty Of the profession to admit
to the public that they were wrong. A
man will say that because DR.. SO and
So advised whisky for his grand
father. the grandson should drink
whisky. l have no connection with
prohibition politicians. From my
own experience with patients l know
that whisky poisons the BRAIN"
The balance in the general fund in
|