Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-23
Thursday, September ~, 1915.
The Temperance Situation in This
County.

AoO0tys
There is no need OF temperance or
church people visiting saloons in Lew
iston, except 1t be to satisfy individual
curiosity.
The saloons are open and doing bus
mess, as they have often been before.
The saloons are open because they
have the political opportunity. They
are open because the. county voted
them open. They are open because the
Moral and Temperance elements Of
this community were lazy asleep. in
different. obtuse and in many respects
worse than that in September, 1914.
Think back to that campaign. We
had a clean-cut county issue. For
over a year we had enjoyed strict
enforcement of the anti-saloon laws.
Under Sheriff Stevens, there was strict
enforcement. Stevens was nominated
for sheriff by both the Republican and
Progressive parties. But the campaign
for him apart from what the newspa-
pers and the political speakers could
do, was lifeless. There was no great
stir about it. The tremendous import
ance of the issue was but little Gevel-
oped in public speeches and in the
work throughout the county. Davis, the
opposing candidate to Stevens. deceiv-
ed nobody. He was fair enough about
it. II was understood that he repre-
scented exactly what Stevens did not
represent. 1t was understood that to
elect Davis meant to have easy times
for the saloons and to elect Stevens
meant the opposite The time to fight
was then. The time for the clergy
men to preach. the women to work.
the temperance man to rouse his neigh
Dor. the business man to protect his
creditors was then. They knew or
should have known what an asset was
our growing repute as the cleaneSt,
best-managed county in NJ aine. We
should have felt what it meant as an
attraction to new industry. to shoppers
and to transportation interests. We
should have known that apart from the
moral aspects, the safety to home, and
the upbringing of children. the bust
ness suspects demanded our support for
the very best instead of for the very
worst.
What happened? No need to say.
There was no banding together of bus
mess men to protect business. There
was no round up of school. church and
home against this ravening wolf Of an
archy and greed. Nothing of the kind.
1t was treated purely as political
matter. And Stevens was defeated.
Much as we appreciate the public in
terest in the matter now that the sore
is fostering, We do assert again that the
time for these ebullitions is not when
it exists in almost helpless condition
but when under fair conditions al the
polls it may be prevented.
But the present stir is not without
its value. 1t may endure until Sep
TENDER. 1916, when by its assistance
Gov. Curtis will be defeated for re-
election. 1t may have its effect on
some Of the leaders who will curtail
the activity of the strong arm gentry
who think might is right. 1t may even
reach the Governor himself. who will
see that the revolution is serious ana
that to rehabilitate himself he must
return to allegiance to the now for
gotten oath of office to discharge all
the duties incumbent upon him-one
of which is to enforce the laws against
the saloon-Lewiston Journal
The above strong. candid but fair
editorial Is so full of common sense
that it should strike home in Andro-
scoggin county and elsewhere in the
State. THE VOTERS KNEW. They
had no idea that the Democratic party
in city, county or State, stood for any.
thing higher than rum politics.
In the last campaign several Demo-
cratic candidates were honest enough
to say as much to the people. Demo-
cratic leaders banked on their promise
to give booze opportunities to all. Can
didate Curtis told his hearers that he
did not believe in prohibition; that he
did not believe the law could be en-
forced; that he did not believe the
people" want the law enforced; that
they might know what to expect" if
he was elected. His words were gen.
orally interpreted as they have prov
ed. The voters who want booze and
all that goes with it; voters who are
disciples Of the little god Of personal
liberty voters WHO DelleVe lHdl UuS-
mess is better" when open saloons are
getting the dimes and dollars Of wage
earners and school boys; voters who
degenerately wish to see gambling and
houses OF designation flourish-all
these were careful to vote. And. what
is worse. many voters who are opposed
to all these things. did not have life
enough. interest enough, moral stami-
ma enough, to go to the polls.
We are not surprised that, now the
promised regime Of idiocy and devil
ishness is in full swing, the moral ele-
ment has become aroused. II an cleo
ton were to be held next Monday the
effect would be seen in an overwhelm-
ing vote against Democratic rum, rot
tenness and ribaldry.
The Lewiston Sun. independent
Democratic. says the Democratic party
is wholly responsible: can any one de.
ny it? The Lewiston Journal. Pro-
gressive Republican. says the people
are getting what they voted for; can
anyone deny that? The press Of Lew