Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-02
Tho Revelations Of IL Months.

What would have been the impress
sion year ago today, II some pre-
tended prophet had foretold that on
April /, 1915. the newspapers Of the
world would contain the announce
ment that King George v had de-
clared himself prepared to set an ex-
ample by giving up all alcoholic
liquors himself and by issuing orders
against their consumption in all the
royal household? And yet that is the
news today, And King George has
not heretofore been long on abb
stemiousness!
This movement Of Lloyd Georges
for shutting off the liquor traffic, as
an act Of war. seems to be. gaining
seriousness and force. Hugo business
interests in Great Britain are in
volved. They may we'll consider the
liability that public houses once
closed might with some difficulty be
reopened.-Boston Herald.
= What would have been the impress
sion one year ago today. If some pre-
tended prophet had foretold that on
April i. 1915 conditions had SO shaped
themselves throughout the world tina.
the biggest topic in the newspapers
would be prohibition Of the liquor
trafic?
What would have been the impress
sion if the Kennebec Journal, in the
resubmission campaign Of 1911, had
predicted that in 1915 leading news
papers Of this country would be doing
something besides sneer at prohibit
ton; would be telling the stories Of
economic recognition; would be giving
in dispatches and editorials the de-
mand for suppression Of an evil great :.
er Gas Lloyd George said) than a ma
tons worst enemy?
King George v. Of Great Britain
Leads in British Battle for Prohibi-
tion," say the biggest headlines on the
first pages Of American newspapers.
Thursday. Drastic measures de-
manded for check Of evil that hampers
q nations endeavors and threatens
very life Of a people" is another
headline. King Offers to Give Up
Liquors AS Example" emblazons the
top Of another first page.
The movement for suppression Of
the unholy liquor traffic is everywhere
gathering force. Every great world
event for several years has disclosed
a mighty force leavening the lump OF
humanity. The world is awakening
to the awful folly of drugs and booze.
China led, as a nation, with a graded
but resistless reduction Of the nation
al drug peril. France put absinthe I'M
der the ban; Russia outlawed vodkha.
England would end sale Of booze.
The Herald editorial says huge
business interests are involved" OF
course they are. for huge business in
terests that have fattened on human
blood have made the traffic the bur.
den that threatens the life Of nation.
These huge business interests" leap
to their feet to shout that thousands
Of men and women will be thrown out
Of employment" Glasgow liquor deal
ers hasten to urge a drastic reduce
ton Of the hours Of SALE" Other huge
interests" suggest prohibiting sale Of
spirits but allowing sale Of beer and
wine.
These huge business interests"
think not Of themselves, o, no! They
think only Of the help that will be
made idle and subject to government.
aid, and the poor, suffering drinkers
who can find nothing to extinguish
their inward fires.
The only way to prohibit is to pro-
hibit. To compromise with huge
business interests" is to be lost. They
will fight, and they will hesitate at no
cunning violation or desperate crime
70 discredit the law or to accomplish
their purpose Of money getting.