Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-01
A Prohibition Argument
q press Heraldl

(HreSS- Herald)
Does the enforcement OF the pro-
hibitory law produce beneficial re-
suits?
The most Of the propaganda Seems
to be in the negative. if we are 10
form our opinions from the news
papers and the periodicals. But it
may be that they are not giving us
the best foundation on which to base
our opinion.
Here is an argument for prohibit
ton which was recently offered at a
private dinner in Portland by one
of Names youngest and most sue
cessful building contractors, a man
who has worked his way up II his
present position by his own efforts
who began as laborer, became a
foreman and then an employer. He
has had the direction of thousands
OF men during the brief time he has
been engaged in business, and speaks
from experience.
In politics he is a Democrat. In
religion he is a Catholic. When the
war came he gave up a large and
prosperous business 20 60 to France,
where he served as en- officer, and.
because he knew how to handle men,
was placed in a most responsible
position. Whatever he says about
prohibition is based on intimate
knowledge Of its effect on the hun
dreds Of workmen whom he has en-
ployed.
This man. whose name is not used
here because he referred to his ex-
periences at private gathering, and
mas no desire to become engaged In
public controversy, told the men
who We're assembled at the dinner
table with him, that prohibition has
brought about a wonderful improve
ment in conditions in the building
trade.
Before the passage Of the VOL
stead Act" this man said, 1--WE
counted on having from a quarter
TO q third of our workmen off the
Job every Monday morning. We
made allowances for this in making
our contracts. 1t was a handicap
for us and added materially to the
cost of doing business. These Mon
day morning absentees, and many
OF them We're off the Job longer than
one day At a time, were men who
had drank so heavily Saturday
afternoon and Sunday that they were
unfit to work on Monday.
To-day" the contracso continued.
we have no absentees on Monday
morning. If any men are off the Job
we know they are really sick. Our
Workmen turn up on time every day.
This includes the skilled laborers as
well as the ordinary laborers. They
work harder and are worth more
than they were before the Volstead
Act was passed.
"Workmen are also saving the
money they earn and not spending
IL Tor rum. Only today / had a man
who. works for me come and tell
me he wanted to build a house for
himself. asked him how much
money he had. He said I have
$4,000 IN the bank have known
this man for years. He has always
MADE good wages when he worked. I
was surprised that he had SO much
money and asked him where he had
obtained 1t. He said: I saved it out
OF my wages. / haven't taken a
drink for three years This man
used to spend all he earned every
saturday and Sunday, and the most
of it went for rum.
Il have had contracts where MANY
men who turned up for work had
with them every morning a half pint
OF whiskey. This liquor was used
during the day while the work was
going on. We had to watch out to
see that If man got too much rum
ne didn't get hurt or do something
on The Job which. would result Ia