Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-30
is Prohibition Practical?

We are asked by the Literary Digest
for an expression as to the success of
Prohibition in the State of Maine DO
you recommend it to other states? ?"
Editor Woods inquiries. He says that
leaders in religious, educational, bus
mess and social life are studying the
drink problem as never before" and
they wish to know of the practical
working of prohibition legislation.
II may have occurred to this astute
analyst of human problems that
ground which would appear 'practicar'
TO the first three groups named-re-
Lgious, educational and business
might not so appear to the last men
tioned-social-for the booze idiocy is
cre Of social example and cultivation.
But every person who has contem-
slated the drink folly and the evil
traffic, outside the house of ats friends,
Knows that every restraint of it, every
movement that shows to developing
minds the evil and folly of it, every
act that makes its standing that Of an
outlaw, every substitute for the saloon
thought. is morally progressive.
That is why we believe in prohibi-
ton
Is it practical?
Is it practical gain for the quality
Of Names manhood and womanhood
that hundreds of thousands of children
have grown to maturity without ever
having seen saloon?
Is it practical that these hundreds Of
thousands. in a period of three eener-
atoms, have received their Impressions
and formed their characters while
looking upon the liquor traffic as an
out law and the use Of it as folly and
sin?
Is il practical that in this State to-
day are many thousands of people of
middle and old age who never saw a
saloon. who never smelled beer and
whose experience with any form of
booze is limited to the keeping of a
little whiskey or gin in the house as a
medicine?
Is il practical that with all the out
of-State determination to discredit and
violate Names law, the traffic has re-
manned an outlaw. ashamed of it's life,
afraid OF the light and confined to the
unwhoesome places where a man who
respects himself or his family is
ashamed to he seem
Is 1t practical that the consumption
Of Intoxicating drinks was at once re-
duced on the passage of the Maine law
and has remained so low that the out
of-State liquor interests have waged
continuous and bitter war upon tho
law? " the law does not work why do
they oppose il?
II Is true that the law has not been
enforced as II ought. except in spasms
and spots, but neither has the law
against any other crime. Murders go
On, as does arson and quarantine laws
arc evaded while officers look another
way.
But even In times when the political
conditions of law violation and Of null
lIfication were as bad as the worst in
our worst cities desired, the traffic was
still an outlaw, discredited, held in
horror by the young and increasing the
hate of decency to a point where they
would overthrow the political booze
regime. And even in those times, the
worst that we have known, the outside
interests were not content with their
rrturn but clamored with their political
tools and allies to overthrow the law.
10 not these considerations prove
that the law is practical for moral
Gets?
And outside of these consideration
IL the one great living fact that in the
great area of Names rural districts
the law has fulfilled its high purpose
in "A degree that is admirable beyond
measure.
And whereas in the past we have had
constant struggle with the powerful
interests DeyObu DOIuer tnat III
turn received the support of the L. S.
government. under the Webb-Kenyon
law ard the Randall bill or Bankhead
hill we are relieved Of Uncle Sans
pressure upon US.
The Interstate Commerce farce pro-
tseting original packages" to any
upint in our State. no longer prevails.
We can seise and connscate the mo-
ment II comes over the border.
The arrogant. insulting, unceasing
bid for new drinkers that flooded every
homo and once with lying literature is
70 be cut OF.
out.of. state newspapers and period
seals that circulated everywhere IN our
alaae carrying the sophistry and cum
s1ne appeal Of the trafic for new pa
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