The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-11-23
DIR. SMITHS LECTURE
Continued from First Page

even because he has been a very i'm
portant cog in the machinery of ma
tional government, but because in
addition he has always taken an act
i've interest in everything that goes
to make up good citizenship. We
may also feel assured that a public
official who has safely weathered the
storms of the successive administra-
tons of Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson,
will speak with a reasonable degree
of freedom from prejudice"
DR.. Smith referred To the Maine
campaign being fought out on nation
al issues giving our citizens the
broader outlook. He presented the
subject of Prohibition from the ma
tional point of view as it affects the
whole American people and told
about his personal observations in
the course of his official work in diff
ferent parts of the country Two
propositions were presented: The
first one being that just as absti-
nence from alcoholic drink means for
the individual greater degree of
personal safety and efficiency, so pro-
hibition of the manufacture and sale
of alcoholic liquors means for
America a larger measure of nation
al safety and efficiency. The two
great modern movepents in the in
dustrial world. Safety-First and Eff
ficiency demand Prohibition. The
fective, Prohibition must be national.
A tribute was paid to the pioneers
who planned with the eye of faith,
the work which is being carried to a
successful issue by the temperance
workers of today. Foremost among
those who had the vision were the
members of the w. C. r. L., without
whose Statewide endeavor the bat
tie for better Maine would have
been lost five years ago. In his
reference to the constant and consist
ent work of the churches, the speak
of the Catholics, quoting ringing
message from Archbishop Ireland
who says that the American saloon
is the mortal foe" of the Catholic
church and between them there can
be no truce
The principal part of the address
was given to illustrations from the
mines, steel-Works, and other great
industries of the country, in which
the demand for total abstinence is
becoming so great. AS New York
ed torial writer put it last week
Business is the greatest force in
America working for Temperance.
Reference was made to the success
of Prohibition in the Western and
Southern States and to the great ma
jorities by which Montana, Michigan,
Nebraska and South Dakota voted
themselves dry two weeks ago.
The progress of Prohibition over
the nation was graphically shown to
the audience by large map, Is feet
in length, specially made since Elec-
ton Day, so as to present up-to-date
facts to the Skowhegan citizens. This
map shows exactly half the States to
have voted statewide Prohibition,
while local option brings the total
dry area up to 85 per cent and the
population living under safe condi
tons to so per cent. Such is the
triumphant sweep of Prohibition
across the country, SO that we'll in
formed public men now speak of a
dry U. S. of A. as definite proba-
bility in the near future.
In concluding the speaker put the
question directly to his audience
What is the issue right here in
Maine and in Skowhegan?' His home
appeal was as follows
do not the same rules OF indus
trial efficiency hold good in Pennsyl-
vania steel plants and Skowhegan
wooden mills, in West Va, coal mines
and Skowhegan pulp mills? If
Prohibition helps Alabama banks,
doesn't it benefit Skowhegan banks?
If Seattle dry good stores and meat
markets get more business when the
saloons close, how about Skowhegan
stores and markets? If miners can
pay cash when West Va goes dry,
will not the same rule apply with
farmers here in Maine? The ans
wer is-good business demands pro
hibition everywhere and everywhere
includes Water Street and Madison
Avenue, right here in Skowhegan
at have emphasized the business