Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-22
NO CAUSE FOR DISCOURAGE
MENT

The report on prohibition, based
upon Investigation over the past
year by the Federal Council of
Churches has been received with
come adverse comment.
Among its conclusions are: that
large part of the public remain un
convinced; that the Federal Govern
ment, up to the present effort under
General Andrews, did not make an
adequate effort for enforcement; that
churches have been delinquent in
temperance education; that what the
Government is now doing is IAN I'M
prccedented CHI .llenge to the
churches and schools; that new
opportunity is at hand" that the
situation calls for "a frank facing of
facts.
This is not as encourag ing as
many would like but does serve to
impress on the public mind that
there is responsibility which can
not be avoided and that it is a part
of that responsibility to face the
facts and to help make the facts
what they should be.
There is nothing sacrosanct about
the conclusions of this Council. but
the purpose they avow Of getting at
the truth is Of course commendable.
1t would be difficult to conceive of
any organization capable of getting
at all the facts or correctly measur-
ing public sentiment. The tenor Of
the report indicates disposition to
state what was found regardless of
what was hoped. This lends weight
to 1t.
There is in it no cause for down.
heartedness among those who would
ban the liquor traffic. rather a
stimulus to be up and doing. The
undertaking, as all should realize by
this time, is tremendous one; it
cannot be accomplished by declara-
ton but by deed. not by an outburst
Of enthusiasm but by dogged de-
termination to put it across.
The defiant saloon Is gone; there
Is more money ior wives and chill
dren. for automobiles; there are
fewer coming to work on Monday
with q hangover; there is more
money laid up in the banks against
q rainy day. In forming conclusions
we should consider the country and
people as whole; moreover it
would be silly to expect perfection;
it would be cowardly to throw up
our hands now.
And there is encouragement in the
trend of the worlds attitude toward
drinking; life is too exacting to be
alcoholized. The attainments that in
vite are not to be had by the
"boozy''. There are other diversions
than shaking dice for the drinks.
In England, the conservative. that
for generations has paid respect as
well as tribute to the liquor traffic,
a falling off in patrons of the pubs"
is noticed along with the increase In
the number of those buying auto
mix even over there, and few have
money to buy both. Furthermore it
is noticeable that capital is not get
ting tine returns it did from Snug
Cling rum into America. Canadians
undoubtedly haze secured consider
able funds from the illegal traffic,
but that is being driven into the
hands of thugs. and it is incredible
that civilized people will continue to
tolerate the domination of that class.
There is likelihood of radical
change respecting the present
astounding tolerance shown the
prisoners. Public sentiment has only
adherence fer the criminal who puts
arsenic in the food of another and
even associates in prison shun him.
Why treat any differently him who
puts poison in another's drink?