Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-02
Turning from an Evil Business.


papers in the United States will accept
no advertising Of whiskey, beer or
other alcoholic liquors. An inquiry
directed to every daily newspaper In
the United States by the Temperance
Society Of the Methodist Church,
brought replies from 679 papers. the
total number tc which questions were
addressed being 2lSO. Only 159 of those
replying will accept liquor advertls-
ing of any kind, and large number
of these will accept only advertising
Of beer.
Three hundred and sixty of these
papers declare themselves to be ed
itorial advocates Of national prohlb-
ition, while 200 of them oppose. Three
hundred and sixty favor state pro-
hibition, with only 1873 opposing; 391
favor local prohibition, with only 116
in opposition.
a very large number OF newspapers
declare their editorial columns are
neutral on the liquor question, While
a surprising number Of papers which
accept liquor advertising, assert that
they are in favor Of national prohib-
ition. The growing tendency to bar
liquor ads is also made apparent by the
announcement of many that they have
recently adopted that policy. The case
of the Indiana Times, Of indianapolis
which took this stand on January
is typical. In answer to the question,
DO you editorially favor national pro-
hibitlon?" a great New York news
paper Significantly says, I'VE have
not AS yet" and another large paper
which accepts whiskey advertising de-
clares: We have never taken a de-
finite stand, but expect in a few weeks
to come out for state and national
prohibition Quite a number say
that they are taking no new liquor
advertising, but are filling old con-
tracts. Many say, I'VE do not solicit
if the copy IS not Objectionable we
accept it Several complain that
their policy in regard to liquor ad-
vertising is not sufficiently appreciated
by church people. Quite number say,
I'VE are only waiting for public opin-
ion to swing in favor of prohibition;
others call special attention to the fact
that their columns are open to the
temperance people, altho editorially
they are neutral. A great many ed
itors seize the occasion to point out
that only education can bring about
a state Of mind which will make ma
tional prohibition effective, and they
declare that sufficient educational
work has not yet been done. Some
take advertising of whiskey only
when they consider it medicinal;
others point to the fact that they bar
even patent medicines with large pro-
portion Of alcohol. Some ask double
price for liquor ads. The number who
declare that the elimination Of liquor
advertising pays financially is quite
large. One West Virginia paper says,
Prohibition in this state has helped
the newspaper business just as it has
all other business
Almost without exception the news
paper men, whether or not they favor
it, express their belief that national
prohibition is coming.
We note in running over the list of
these more than 500 papers. many who
all the liquor advertising that came
to them and. editorially, sneered at
the odd women who opposed the
liquor business. 1t may be said with
out fear Of intelligent or honest contra
dicticn, that the press of the country
generally recognizes the turning
away from an evil traffic, popular
awakening to the intolerance, AFRO
gance. Hypocrisy, false pretense,
SiSCOs NOIllhdtloA VI pOhttSS, diSL C.
gard of law, ruthless trampling of
all that Is good, and an incessant> ef-
fort to turn all to it's commercial gain
by the liquor trust.
Temperance is one thing and pro-
hibition Is another. Temperance ed
ucates the individual against the
folly and sin of drink. Prohibition
says that no man or organization Of
men shall be allowed to deceive the
unthinking into debasing their bodies
and souls for the sake Of returning a
profit to the maker and seller Of a
useless and evil thing. Prohibition
also urges that the first step toward
doing away with the traffic which the
world is just learning to hate, is to
dissolve the partnership between
governments and the evil business.
The people of this and other nations
are coming to understand that they
are paying too much for the revenue"
which the government derives from
debauching it's citizens.
Today the press is rapidly taking
it's stand for moral progress and stern