Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-24

-
lers and Wholesale Dealers" which
claims to comprise 80 per cent. OF the
distillers and allied interests Of the
United States Tin other words, the
Rum Trust') is sending out advertis-
ing in attempt to counterfeit the now
well-nigh -whelming public de-
mand for national prohibition. The
first demand of this advertising is:
DO you think our government should
coniscate the property Of its citizens
without compensation"
We ara ready to answer promptly:
WE DO NOT; and that is why we de-
mand national prohibition. Millions of
families have been robbed of their
property. their happiness and their
honor through the Vaccinations Of
groups of INSCRIPTIONS interests,
WITHOUT COMPENSATION
we demand that this plotting against
American homes shall cease.
And again the police power con-
ferred by the Constitution may sup
press any menace to the health and
morals Of the public without consid-
Grafton of compensation"
The advertisement continues:
DO you know that the annual liquor
revenue pal dthe government by the liq-
uor industry exceeds the total annual in
terest on the new seven billion dollar war
loan?"
We know more than that-we
know that every dollar received in
revenue from the booze business costs
this nation ten dollars in support of
the victims Of that business, and in
waste Of national efficiency. We
know that the food grains converted
into booze material on which the gov
eminent derives that revenue would
furnish a loaf Of bread a day to IT,
100000 soldiers.
Further DO you know" propositions
Of this rum trust advertising read:
that there are now stored in gov
eminent bonded warehouses, over 2l1,000,-
600 gallons of whiskey and other spirits?
THAT distillers have given bonds
to the government for over 1892 600 for
payment of taxes on these goods?
that prohibition would contiscate
not only the millions lawfully invested in
distillery property, but also the millions
of gallons stored in bonded warehouses,
and would confiscate bonds to the extent
OF $222 ,OOo--an amount greatly in ex-
cess of the total capital and surplus Of
all the bonding companies in America
so that the government would lose $232, :
t00000 taxes"
We know that that 211, 100000 gall
Ions Of human suffering and depravity
is SUFFICIENT for all medicinal, me-
chanical and scramental purposes" for
a long time to come, and that if the
government does it's duty it will halt
the business at once and see to it that
not single gallon of this poison goes
out for beverage purposes.
We know that the government can
not afford a single dollar of revenue"
from this devilish business. We know
that efficiency in men for the war and
in the production Of war materials and
food, depends on instant and absolute
suppression Of the booze traffic. We
know that the government will not be
handicapped for any stupendous sum it
may require for war purposes, if it
promptly dissolves partnership with
the saloon business. We know that
the government can afford any number
of billions Of dollars for protection
of the country from it's enemies, and
the people from the worst enemy of
all, the liquor interests. And we
know that the Government cannot
afford to accept single penny in rev.
enue BRIDE from this national
enemy.
And we also know that by hating
this business now the government can
save, in q single year, $4,000, 00o, 900
that is now worse than useIessIy ex.
pended.
In answer to further arguments set
forth in this advertising-the argu-
ments that have been familiar to the
people Of this country since slavery
days-we would say that slave owners
put up the same cry of defense in
their long tolerated and built-up Gus
sedness, that they were protected in
it by the Constitution; that private
property shall not be taken without
due compensation to owners"
We would answer that the demands
Of decency have been scoffed at by
these selfish interests which, instead
of needing the sure growth of NOR
atty and revolt against liquor BUSH
ness greed and arrogance. have defied
all laws and have gone ahead braz-
emily to overthrow lazy and increase
their hold upon human weakness.
These selfish interests, instead Of re-
ducing their holdings and obeying the
warnings to get out" while the get
ting out was good, have increased
their holdings and depended on their
boast of growth to beat down and dis
courage all opposition.
The hour has come when evil in
terests are to receive from the people
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