Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-03-17
For Representative to Congress
HON. JOHN E. NELSON
Of Augusta
AMENDMENT AND ITS MISUSE
Of Augusta

Most of US have had the eighteenth
amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States called to our attention
II not thrust upon it. Some Of the
obtrusivencss has been in the nature
of alleged humor and some Of it has
been humorous without being so in
tended. Some of this clamor implies
an ignorance of just what that
amendment is. Let's see just what it
Is.
Section 1. After one year from the
ratification of this article the man.
ufacture. sale or transportation of in
toxicating liquors within. the impor-
tation thereof into. or the expectation
thereof from the United States and
al territory subject to the jurisdic-
ton thereof for beverage purposes is
hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the
several states shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by ap-
propriate legislation.
It ought to be plain by this time
that the proper enforcement of this
il q task Of such magnitude as to re-
quire the support of all the respecta-
BILE people that can be mustered. 1t
ought to be plain that in doing this
there will be need of those who at
some time in their lives have taken
drink of liquor ard who will not per-
jure themselves by denying it. ANY,
thing tending to ALLEVIATE support or
disgust decent people should be
frowned upon. The law doesn't en-
force itself.
With regard to the approval Of the
Christian Civic League both candi-
dates at the election next Monday,
Mr.. Nelson as we'll as Mr.. Mclean,
stand on an equal basis. The League
avoids affiliation with political par
ties as such, but it is interested to
secure candidates representing the
principles for which the League
stands and at the primaries both
Nelson and Mclean were recognized
as such. Under these conditions the
most ardent member Of the League,
II a Republican, can conscientiously
support Nelson, and, if Democrat,
can support Mclean. Any attempt
to make it appear that members of
the Civic League may conscientious
ly vote only for Mclean is an attempt
to secure votes Under false pre-
lenses. There are legal penalties
for those who attempt to secure
goods under false pretenses. False
pretenses won't support the amend
ment.
What applies to the Civic League
also appears to apply to the w. c.
T. U. We have just been shown
the copy Of a circular letter being
sent out by four people connected
with that organization. While in the
concluding paragraph they admit
they are sending this letter as indi-
viduals. they open 1t with: Ernest
L. Mclean. Esquire, of Augusta. the
Democratic nominee. should receive
the support Of every member Of the
woman's Christian Temperance
Union" thus trying to throw the
support Of the organization to Nc
Lean.
A like intent is seen in printed cir
culars bearing the portrait Of Nc
Lean and stating that he has been
endorsed" by the Christian Civic
League. Notwithstanding the presi-
dent of that League has made it abb
solutely clear that: after the pri-
maries the League as such stands
entirely neutral between the en-
dorsed candidates" namely as be-
tween Nelson and Mclean
And there is not in the record any
thing to warrant the supposition
that Mr.. Nelson is guilty Of false
hood In declaring as he has: Il be
lieve In the honest enforcement of
the prohibition laws and that Fed
eral and State authorities. should CO.
operate to that end-with the as
sistance Of all right-thinking men
and women who realize that respect
for law Is a condition essential to
the perpetuity Of our form of gov.
ernment." This is no new position
he has assumed to catch votes. He
has all along been in favor of pro-
hibition and attempt to make it ap.
pear otherwise can only serve pur.
poses Of deception.
Mayor Day Of Bangor Is to be COM
mended. He vetoed the daylight saw
Il