Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-25
QUESTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES
TO CONFRONT and SOME PLAIN
STATEMENTS FROM THE PULPIT

limit. Perhaps I would have better
luck than in Chicago. But much
abused Chicago has gone dry on Sun
day. Her liquor licenses have dropped
! in negotiable value from thousands to
| nothing. All liquor contracts are now
being drawn with the proviso that they
| will not hold if Sunday closing contin-
ues. A few fearless men brought 1t
about in city that had a parade one
hundred thousand strong in protest
against Sunday closing. The chief of
police they tell me, teaches a, Bible
class. Those Bible classes men are to
be feared. You say you have a sher-
| iff now who will enforce the law. Do
you want it enforced? If you do, 1t
will be. But how about the other Off
Gals, are they going to back up your
sheriff? How about your attorneys,
your judges and how about yourself?
Bring this matter right down to
yourself. Every man is a politician.
That Is, he takes some part in the
science and practice of government.
The man who stops you on the street
and says the law cannot be enforced
| takes his place with the multiplying
! politician and becomes one.
| The prohibitory law of the State Of
Maine was formed by the best class
Of citizens who were pioneers in this
type of legislation. They did it to
protect the good State from the raw
ages of rum. Ever since that day
the gray wolves of anarchy have, with
| slavering jaws, been leaping to tear
and devour the protection and protec-
tors of the people.
The citizens ought to have risen up
like the minute men of old, with
mighty indignation, and gone forth to
fight a curse and an enemy more SUD-
tie and wicked and destroying than
any enemy our country ever met An
Indifferent and apathetic citizenship Is
as guilty before God as those who sell
rum, for they become partners in their
let-alone attitude. Jesus Christ laid
down the eternal principle of partisan
ship when he said HE that is not with
me is against me; and he that gather
eth not with me, scattereth abroad.
| Good laws cannot be enforced! When
Theodore Roosevelt found himself
chairman of the excise commission OF
New York City, he also found that
every saloon was open on Sunday con-
trary to law. He said the law shaii
pe enforced. There arose a Shrek
from every quarter. He was denounc-
ed and abused by press and politician.
The churches, scared at the noise,
were for the most part discreetly
dumb But the man with a big stick
practically alone, went at his job with
a grim determination and won cut.
Many a time have I been stimulated
in reading his account Of that fight
with the wild beasts when the SOCIAL
ed good citizens leaned on their guns
and watched.
/ Where Are IS Men?
Twenty-Five determined men in the
city of Lewiston could clean up this
town in 80 days. The wicked flee
when no man pursueth. Twenty-Five
men could change public sentiment in
a few hours. People in hiding would
begin to come out of their holes and
say they always believed in law and
order But where are the twenty-five
determined men who will rise up and
use half a dozen forms Of legal re-
dress, and demand an indictment OF
those whose business it is to see that
our laws are enforced?
The men of Maine have the reputation
Of being careful and prudent as we'll as
thrifty in money matters. So the aston
fishing thing is to see them sit by and be
robbed. Rum comes in here by force,
opens up it's illegal pest houses. and does
not even pay tax to the city. When a
condition like that exists, it IS always
found that some person or persons are re-
ceiving benefit in taking blood money IN
protecting an outlawed, an alien trade.
To permit this is as bad as il we invited
leprosy, infantile paralysis. smallpox and
all other contagious diseases to come here
| provided they paid the proper parties
sufficient to make 1t an object. Without
the least attempt to be sensational. cold
| facts show that the annual devastation
in this city alone, through drink ex-
ceeds both in money loss, manhood loss,
childhood deformity and home dis
ruption all that would come from
the free introduction of all the dis
| eases in the State. It is exactly as wick
| ed as to permit a few persons to sell the
right to establish a dynamite factory in
the square. One explosion would not de-
stroy az much life and property as are
annually consumed through rum in the
| Pine Tree State.
There cannot be business or social PROS