Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-28
ROT SPREADING AMONG PEo-
Piles
"Thou shalt not kill"

"Thou shalt not kill"
When this command was given CIV
ilization. as we think Of 1t, was crude.
A belief in hell existed. But even
then murder was held to be objec.
tionable. The art of killing the soul
and holding the body in slavery had
not then been developed as we find it
today. Had 1t been, We like to think
that 1t would not have afforded the
murderers and slave drivers entree
to the best society.
Conditions have changed since the
days Of Moses. Greed has discovered
how to kill and hold the body in
thralldom paying tribute to greed and,
with this toll. greed buys the luxu-
rious living, the power and influence
which money will buy and walks
about with head erect.
So much for reference to one phase
Of development in the human race,
rather development in the conditions
under which the human race seeks to
live and enjoy life. under which the
weak. the depressed. those who have
not the vitality and courage. which
hnd pleasure In overcoming obstacles,
seek relief from their fancied troub-
les or pleasures which they foolishly
fancy may be found in forbidden
ways.
Man has made laws and at present.
is struggling against the recently
perfected fundamentally for their
undoing. the narcotic evil. Strug-
Cling? If society. with its legal
machinery. it's moral purposes which
we are glad to believe predominant,
can do no better, then it is indeed a
pitiful struggle. The story Of it
brings shame to the reader and ought
to stir him to some purpose. Much
is being written about it. The tale is
Eruesome one with a fascination for
the morbid and shock to those, who
would think Of all men as brothers. 1t
reveals depravity, cruelty and fiend-
iyhness. which we have been wont to
ascribe to the evil one himself. 1t is
diSeouraging to find these so exempli-
fed in the human form. 1t is cause
for establishment to see evidence of
drugs being peddled among prisoners
even in our federal prisons, by guards
set over them. The exposure is as
founding. humiliating and appalling
Chapters in this story are appear
ing in Hearst's magazine. We men,
ton these because they contain refer
ence to efforts which recently were
made to clean up a deplorable condi-
ton in this neighborhood. The facts
connected with this are a revelation
that IL not pleasant to contemplate,
They tell briefly, among other things,
of drug peddler arrested at the Ma
tional Home equipped with narcotics
and the needle, arriving at a time
when the inmates were supposed tc
have money. One may imagine the
harvest he would have reaped at five
dollars "a shot" the price he charged
Think Of the appeal he would have
made. not only among the addicts but
with certain ones ready ito try any
thing once" or wishing for any reason
to obtain oblivion from real or fam
cted troubles. Think that it requires
but a few Of those shots to make one
ali addict, to chain him in the mos
horrible slavery ever inflicted or
Mankind, to death in life, to excruci.
ating agony.
Then think on his sentence by q
FEDERAL court of few days In Jail, the
imposing of a fine of few hundred
apllars on those caught in the net a
tie same time!
Merely incentive to go get more
money in the same hideous way!
And while we are about it think o.
the money that is being spent in the
machinery of alleged prevention anc
punishment for this crime, and o.
what little effect it is.
Thinking on these things, are W.
not convinced that civilization is w
against the greatest struggle 1t evel
has experienced. if it would save IT.
self from the depths of degradation
That the puerile effort 1t now is MAX
ing - cause for hellish glee IN thu
underworld:
Rot is spreading in the fruits o.
civilization, among the peoples. II
sidiously and apparently unchecked
by any method yet employed.