Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-14

Revenue" from Evil.
Chamberlin's magazine for Febr,,
airy contained an article which. we are
told, has been widely circulated by the
liquor interests. "Why?" you ask. The
article appears innocent enough in it's
introduction by the editor who saws.
In part:
Chamberlin's Magazine believes that
me wet and dry problem is one of
the most important problems now before
the American people. Because of the
considerable prejudice and bitterness on
poth SIDES, IT is very hard problem to
solve. Chamberlin's contains the sugges-
tion or national commission The arti-
Gle rs sent to you herewith in reprint.
Inc editor hopes you will find it worthy
OF some comment in your publication
lie believes you will concur in his opn-
best method OF arriving at a satisfactory
solution.
The article itself starts off like this:
THE liquor problem should be con-
sldered by commission appointed by
President Wilson. We did not change
from the National Bank Act to the
Federal Reserve Law without an in
vestigation and a set of recomenda-
men. Neither should we change from
the saloon, and the revenue system
pyramided upon it. without a dispas-
sionate and competent ANALYSIS of the
situation. No harm could come to
either faction from such survey.
Much harm may come through legisla-
ton founded upon impulse and ignor
arce"
In the very first jump the inventor
OF new form for perpetuating an
evil. could not resist the temptation to
work in the stock argument of the
nanor in'erests-the "reve9ue."
often as the revenue pretense is
PROVEN false; often as it is shown that
every dollar of revenue" costs the
pubic Ten this writer in behalf of the
devilish business that has so long domi
mated the country, must needs base his
new plan upon it. Is that not reason
enough why the liquor interests are
circulating 1t as solution of a great
problem?
Nahant. Massachusetts summer re-
sort. is n wet" town and is hound 70
remain so II the interests that finan-
cially prosper out of the wetness can
by any foul means. keep it SO. Two
ciergymen have been driven ont of
town because they spoke too openly
AGAINST the evils which they saw. And
now the Rev. Denver Pickens is in a
fair way to follow his brother workers.
for he says:
When | saw young girl so drunk she
could not stand. thrown from a Rass
ioint hotel crying for her mother. | de-
cided that 1t was about time to fight.
why IL Is getting so that anyone can
come to this town and do about as they
want. ana get away with it?
Word has been passed. to me that II
would mean money for this church if
showed less activity. ! would rather that
I'm. n cnureh rot than take one penny from
these sources, and l would rather preach
for nothing. and live on what | could beg
from door to door.
1t is dangerous condition when these
,n'e re- Try TO get every influential Office
In the town in their power. and their
hands on the officials. They have cor
rupted the politics Of the town. and I
Know men who have been offered money
tons may continue.
Inc liquor interests give work to the
local labOrers and contractors with the
understanding that they must vote IL
cense Last year many of the voters were
bribed and given Intoxicating liquors,
with the result that they were unable to
work during the afternoon
AT the town meeting held last March
the lquor interests said. Stand by US ana
We viii get you the stone crusher that
you are asking for and 1t is a we'll
known fact that many Of the voters did
not vote on the liquor question, until thi.
particular article in the warrant had
been acted on and passed.
THE moral tone Of the town has been
lowered: the police dare not enforce the
laws. and the result is no enforcement of
the law where II Is needed The children
Of the town have no chance, and as they
visit Bass Point, they see nothing but
conditions that are a disgrace to the
community.
Zone OF the hotel keepers l talked with
= short time ago said it was practically
impossible to keep within the law. They
cannot keep within the law II they allow
boys and girls to become intoxicated.
The responsibility for such conditions
rests on the men at Nahant."
The above is a specimen of the bust
ness that the makers and sellers Of
booze are desperately struggling to
save from the wrath Of decent citizen
ship. Now. as last resort they plead
for fair play" and for investigation of
the problem" by government COM
mission. in the hope that they would
be regulated" In. where they have
been dumped out.
As for the revenue" pretense as an
excuse for life, let us consider Seattle,