Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-06
what Everybody Knows"

of special constables to enforce the laws.
the creation Of the Sturgis commission.
the removal of sheriffs by the Governor
on address by the legislature have been
tried at the behest of those who insist
that prohibition may be made TO prohlblt
and still prohibition fails. There are
things which cannot be ignored by any
body who has due regard for the truth.
When they are pointed out in news
the truth is advocating free rum and law
lessness Is merely to exhibit the weak
ness Of the case of those making the
Observation-Disclosures Sentinel.
Our up-river neighbor very adroitly
lodges the point and slips over the
facts. No one has ever denied that
the law was violated, or that it will
always be violated, so long as the stuff
can be dumped upon us. But we do
claim that conditions are far better,
even now, with every contiguous booze
peddling territory doing its utmost to
discredit and violate the Maine law,
than they are in any known locality
where the rum traffic-approved 'regu-
lation" Of the business prevails.
Nor is it the truth to which we OBJ
pers." which never miss an opportun-
ity to encourage the liquor business or
to give comfort to those who as Off
Gals nullify the law, or those who, as
outlaws, violate the law for the money
there is in the business. But we do
object to that old, old, continuously
repeated lie, that the people" want
lawlessness and official collision in
lawlessness. Nor do we think that
such newspapers as serve "a politi-
cal end by ever voicing opposition for
one Maine law. actually favor law
lessness, but by encouraging the bust
ness of the booze traffic in violation of
law that stands. and by covertly
counseling official notification of that
law, to affect a political purpose. such
organs certainly do assist in producing
lawlessness and in creating disrespect
for all law.
And again, everybody DOES know
that attempts that have been made to
better conditions in certain densely
populated places where more of the
illiterate, reckless and criminal settle,
would have been vastly more success
full and effective but for the frantic
appeal, of just such so-called news
papers as referred to. to the per
sonal liberty" instincts Of these same
ignorant, don't care, and law-despising
people
The fear of these newspapers" to
which our neighbor refers, and the
= party which they serve, for years has
been that ALL the people, as well as
the bettermoraled and most intellec-
thai. would learn the moral. physical
and economic value of an enforced
aekH prohibiting the traffic in intoxi-
Z cants. To retain as large a degree
Of favor for the illegal business and
liberation Of officials who have nei-
/. Their respect for the law, themselves
or high heaven. has been a constant
but losing fight on the part of such
newspapers" as the Waterville Sem
tinel and others which serve a rum
ridden Democratic political machine.
BY this never-ceasing fight against
one Of Names laws, and continuous
appeal to the baser instincts of the
intelligent class Of people. the Demo-
+. <~Ya - opkx, Ho~
the liquor question IN POLITICS, for
many years. They have also succeed
ed in drawing large sums of money
for lawless political uses, and with
which to hold the support of such
newspapers"
These are the FACTS in the case,
friend Sentinel, and they can no long
er be sneered out Of recognition by the
stereotyped phrases passed out by the
liquor interests.
Undoubtedly, booze is to have an
other big inning in Maine with the
Governor refusing fatty to use the
weapons given him with which to
punish criminal officers, or to attempt
to enforce the law, and whining that
he is helpless; that the law cannot
be enforced, for he has always said so,
every agent Of the business, and every
puppet In public Office serving the IL
quor traffic is active and determined
on reaping a harvest while conditions
are ripe. Another regime Of the 1911
{ IL kind is opening out in full bloom:
!. and the political newspapers" polit-
!, ical official tools, and the peddling
agents themselves Of the rum trust are.
each and all. rejoicing in the demon
stration that Gas they have always
contendeO prohibition does not pro-
hibit"-at least when Democracy is in
NnWAP