Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-23

lots to defeat at the ballot box this
notification of law. Last week in the
city of New York the saloon attempted
to nominate mayor. Judge Haskell CT
the Supreme Bench became their can
didate and pledged himself to make
the city wet Out of total vote %
IT'S. 900 he received only $4,000. de-
feated by 10000 votes. Even Tam
many does not want the return of the
saloon"
Attempts to Nullify
Desperate attempts are being made
today in Congress to weaken or repeal
the prohibition enforcement laws buJ
every such attempt has been defeated
1 am reminded of the young man of
dissolute habits who had been reject
ed four times by a sensible young
lady who objected TO his manner of
life and his bad character. a com
panion learning of the latest refusal
said to him, Jack / understand that
Alice has rejected you again He
answered not exactly. she said when
she felt like making a fool of herself
she would let me know
times proposed to Congress to legalizo
the saloon and make it rich and re-
spectacle to all these advances. Con-
gress has answered by large increased
majorities. when we feel like making
fool Of ourselves we will let you
know
Yesterday the President of the
United States was opposed to national
prohibition. Today he stands for the
enforcement of the 18th amendment
by the most efficient laws that can be
enacted by Congress. He believes
that national prohibition has been n
great blessing to the Nation and Will
be his most valuable assistant in
bringing industrial prosperity and So
cial peace and happiness to the Ameri-
can people
Yesterday. on the first day of this
month, the American Bar Association
in their annual convention declared
themselves in favor of faithful en-
forcement of the 18th amendment.
The Attorney General of the United
States in a speech before that conven-
ton said:
The question of the limitation of
personal liberty is. in the first in
stance, question of political philos-
ophy and not of law. In the evolution
of government we have gradually linn
| tied the sphere of individual liberty.
From the standpoint of the Govern
ment the only sound view is that of
law enforcement. Whatever differ
ences of opinion exist in the views as
to the wisdom of some of these laws
can be of no concern to the agencies
for law enforcement. The executive
department cannot make the laws 1t
is equally true that it cannot nullify
laws. To refuse or to neglect to en-
force valid enactment of the legs-
lative department of government or to
enforce it mechanically or half-heart-
eddy or to wink at its violation, is
without justification on any sound
theory of government. Those who
ask it or expect it not only contribute
to lawlessness but destroy the basis
upon which their own security rests.
Yesterday Ex-Prcsident Taft said he
opposed national prohibition because
he believed personal liberty was de-
MED by legal prohibition. To-day as
Chief Justice of the United States he
says:
1T is the duty of a-I loyal citizens
to urge and demand the passage of
reasonable but effective laws. to obey
the laws themselves. and to insist up-
on their enforcement. no matter what
they thought of the amendment before
its adoption. If. after q decades trial
the change prove a failure and some
other remedy for the drink evil seems
wiser and better. We must count on the
American people who have no obstinate
pride of opinion, to rctrace their
steps and try again. But MEAN
TIME ENFORCE THE AMENDMENT.
WHICH is THE LAW OF THE
| Never Such Hypocrisy
There never was such hypocrisy as
this cry from the saloonists to pro-
tect the rights Of citizens in their
homes from unwarranted search and
SEIZURE. These neWfOund advocates
of the Constitution never knew law
or morals in the days when they were
/ in control of legislatures and con-
gress, when they arrogantly dictated
to governors. senators and MAYORS
whether they would or would not be
kept in office; when decent citizens
kept far from the saloonist's corner
because he feared knife in the back
or pistol shot from the dark.
| The men who until the anti-liquor-
selling law was enacted brought more
tragedies and sadder tragedies into
human life than all other influences
are the men who TOW seek to delude
unthinking people into fear that their
constitutional rights are being yio-
lated-that their homes are in peril Of
the law. Here and there senator's
and congressman are used as stage
dressing in this last desperate effort
to drive a wedge in the anti-Iiduor-
selling law; but back of those dunn
my figures stand the real sponsors Of
I the mOvement-the saloonists.
Yesterday woman was considered
mans inferior, his playing. his tool.
his slave. his housekeeper. She was
not recognized by the schools: she
must keep silence in the church: she
could not own property in her own
right; she did not have the control Of
, her own children; she had no voice
in the business of the world. Today
she is educated. intelligent and re-
fined. She is teaching the schools,
taking the honors in education. carry
ing on the work of a higher morality
and better civilization. Ten million