Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-22
PROHIBITION,
DR.. SMITHS ADDRESS
TO CHRISTIAN ASS'NS

Dr.. George Otis Smith, Phi. D., ad :
dressed a union meeting Of the Y. NJ.
c. A. and Y. W. G. A. at the
college chapel Monday night, on
the subject National Prohibition"
Or. Smith is a man well fitted to
speak on rational questions. His
field is the nation, as director of
the National Geological Survey and
visiting every state in the Union. Be
side this important public position, DR..
Smith serves as president of the
Washington, d. G., Y. NJ. c. A.. is cdi-
tor OF the National Geographic maya
zine. and has for some years been one
of the trustees of Colby college.
DR. Smith has been in Waterville the
last few days visiting his son who is in
the freshman class. and attending the
initiation and banquet of the Delta
Kappa Epsilon fraternity at which his
son was initiated.
Dr. Smith said in opening: 1T IS the
privilege OF my profession. in fact it is
my duty. 10 travel all over the United
State ! have been in every state In
the Union, from North to South from
East to West. | have talked with cow
boys and miners ! know YOU cannot
get to know the people until you have
slept on the kitchen floor in some
Western ranch house.
"in the recent political contest.
whatever leader you followed. you be-
lieved in America first and best.
Our first proposition is, that as alb
stinence in personal consumption
makes tor greater efficiency and safety,
so is the prohibition state more eff
ficient and safe.
Business is now the greatest force
in America working for Prohibition
Great leaders in business cannot afford
TO give place to users of alcoholic bev-
, oragcs. Railroads will not employ
them. mercantile positions ar closed TO
them. steel factories are substituting
milk systems for barroorls
Not only with mercantile men but
with professional men the pace is too
great to endanger us with liquor.
There is direct relation between
cost of coal and use of alcohol by min
ers. The use Of alcohol adds about
five cents Il ton to the cost.
The second proposition is, we must
have national enforcement to be really
efficient. Local option is inefficient,
neither is Statewide prohibition
enough. There is still Portsmouth and
nearby liquor towns. Prohibition that
is State wide fails.
| lis Prohibition coming:' Some Of
the best advised men say that in ten
1 years We shall see a dry nation. In
| the last election we saw four great
states become dry. More than that
Idaho accepted constitutional amend
incnt 10y d majority of three to one.
Colorado. Arkansas, Washington, Iowa
Oregon voted down wet proposals.
! in New Jersey, however, there is
one licensed saloon for every % young
men. Hardly a chance for growing
good young stock.
81 am treating chiefly the business
side of the question, not that | do not
believe in the moral side. The ques-
ton has been treated as a moral ques-
ton too often. J realize mat I am ad
dressing the citizens of tomorrow and
by this | mean the young women as
well as the young men"
|. In closing, DIR. Smith quoted from a
leading Catholic bishop who said:
Those who fight for prohibition of the
licensed sale of liquor are fighting a
bioodlcss battle for humanity"