Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-14
Tho Hour for It Has Come.
Bowdoinham, Maine, April II, 1917.
Editor .JOurnal.

Bowdoinham, Maine, April II, 1917.
Editor Kennebec Journal:
/ want to have a chance to ex-
press my appreciation of your re-
cent editorials and to say a hearty
and PROLONGED AMEN to
to the strong position you are TAX
ing against the government con-
tinuing to waste millions Of dollars
worth of grain, which is a FOOD
PRODUCT in the manufacture of
that which is a thousand times
worse than useless, namely: intox-
icating liquors. There never was a
time when u country should have
fostered this nefarious industry,
and at the present time the reasons
are a ~hundredfold more urgent that
the government should at once pro-
hibit the manufacture and sale Of
intoxicating liquors. This great ma
ton of ours through it's executive
head, President Wilson. is calling
hood Of the country to enlist under
the Stars and Stripes for the de-
Tense Of the nations honor, and
WHY should there be found a place
beneath its protecting folds where
this liquid damnation" can be OBJ
tanned by our soldier boys?
have during the last 20 years
travelled from ocean to ocean sever
al times and spent nearly two years
in the state OF California where at
that time rum. flowed freely. I had
the privilege and the honor Of be-
ing invited some few years e to
give an address to the soldier boys
and those gathered with them at the
dedication of the little Y. M. C. A.
room at the great Preside at Mont
Grey. California. and it warmed my
heart to have the boys at the close
of my heart-to-heart talk with
them, grasp my hand and thank me
heartily for the words of cheer and
encouragement which I gave them,
and / admired the splendid effort
they We're making to help them
selves and also to throw a better
influence around their comrades
who were not strong enough to re-
sist the temptation of drink. for
just OulSlOc tIle dthS was NhC
city Of Monterey with the licensed
saloon, and as my wife and l passed
out from the Y. M. c. A. meeting
our hearts were saddened to see a
number Of the boys lined up to be
ser to the guard house. We were
informed that the greater part OF
all the offences were caused direct
~ through the influence of drink.
The liquor could not be obtained on
the ground and had the saloon been
abolished in Monterey the strong
temptation would have been re-
moved in a great degree.
have son of my W in whom I
have endeavored to found a strong.
manly, Christian character. One OF
them, n lad Of niHctoer. after ma
ture thought I,ne decided to enlist
in the service of his country. and.
endea voring to he q trIlc father and
a loyal citizen. I could not say him
nay. howmuohsoever we dislike to
have him leave the home influence.
and to meet what we know he must
meet in the days to come.
A grand one is your suggestion In
today's editorial that all the church
es throughout the land and all
other organizations for the uplift Of
humanity and the honor Of our
country lift their voice in the
strongest possible terms and let it
be heard in Washington with our
congressman and President, toward
the sweeping from our land in this.
the national crisis. the ~legaliZed
saloon, and remove, as much as Dos
sible. the temptation Of drink from
our soldier boys.
May God bless you in your work
and may your voice and pen be uesd
so effectively is to set the mighty
wave in motion that shall sweep
from our land the legalized saloon,
and forever wash this black stain
from our Stars and Stripes.
Sincerely Yours.
JAMES H. AMES.