The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-10-25

Other papers speak In similar terms A gen-
tleman who had occasion 70 travel b. stAgs
from Bangor to the Aroostook, states that hs
did not see . single pefson Who lsppared to
have imbibed liquor, and that the stage driver
informed him that whereas nearly every hotel
on the route has heretofore sold liquor, now II
10 utterly impossible to obtain drop. Lum-
Der men say that their river.drivers never be-
fore came In % sober. In Aroostook the liquor
dealers have gone out OF the business, The
effect on the upper Kennebec Is equally marked.
Mr.. Coburn Of Skowhegan, says that never be-
fore has he been able to have the large number
OF men whom he employs, drive BY Moose ri,-
er without having . long drunk there. This
wear not one WAS lat xicatsd there, thus saving
Thousands Of dollars to him and the men. One
Of the largest hotel keepers In the State recent.
ly told me that the eastern hotel.keepers had
all suspended rum selling until the repeal OF
the lsgislation Of last winter. .,Iy -
These and q multitude Of other facts make
Il q clear % MONDAY sun that the Constabu-
larry has wrought . wonderful change In the
State. Now 1t Is proposed to abolish the ma
chinery that Is working such wonders and re
peal the penalty that makes the. prohibition .
reality. Who demands this, and why! Only
three classes lead Of In this. Let, those who
want to buy liquor to drink and can't fnd
Il; ID those who would like to sell liquor but
don't dare to; and third, the politicians who
are afraid that they lose the votes OF some OF
these classes. Il Ia the liquor interest that
makes the demand In order that II may have
IN opportunity 10 rob the State OF millions of
dollars and all our streets with drunkards.
There Il reason to fear that the large political
influence and immense wealth Of this Interest
will secure the end they aim at.
OF course the movers for repeal do not put
forth the real reason for such course. but
they are striving to secure their end by base
Misrepresentation Of every movement of the
officers and particularly by the most outrage
Gus stories % to the cost Of the Constabulary.
One would think to hear them talk that the
amendment Of last winter entirely changed
the character Of the prohibitory act Of 1888,
whereas all that It does Is simply to increase
the penalty OF what was before prohibited.
Farmers have In some quarters been made TO
believe that IL cuts them of from manufactur-
Ing and selling cider, whereas II leaves them
precisely Us the act of 1858 did, with full au-
thority to both manufacture and sell. Apoth-
e:aries have almost persuaded themselves that
Il imposes some new restrictions upon them,
whereas It leaves them precisely where the act
Of 1858 did. g.. r....- .-.... .f
But Il Is the expense Of the Constabulary
that this system Of base Misrepresentation has
that the State Police would cost SIS 900, $780,
600, and even $500, 900, the present year. Even
II It did cost these sums, it would be money In
the pockets Of the people to continue the sys-
TEN, for II will certainly save this year more
than million Of dollars, which would have
gone for rum, and will save immensely more In
taxation, misery, crime and even deaths avert
ed. She State would be the gamer, II by ex-
pending even these sums the sources OF intern
perance could DO SO nearly dried up rs they
have been. The saving In taxation alone would
defray the expense. In 1916 thorough exc
cution Of the prohibitory act Of that year.
saved $4,000 In the Psuper expenses OF tho sim
But the baseness Of these Misrepresentation
is seen, when II Il known that the whole ex.
pense of the Constabulary for the six months
ending Oct. LIST, will not much, II any, exceed
nine Thousand dollars, and from this Is to be
deducted oil the fines, reducing the cost sever
al thousand dollars. In Massachusetts, where
the system has been thoroughly organized,
under law where the fines are very much
heavier than In this State, the Constabulary
paid their own bills, and then turned o balance
of sos, 500 into the State Treasury. The first
year they were an expense to the State, for the
reason that liquor dealers appeal as long a.
they can before they pay, just rs they are do
ing here. In oil probability the fines already
imposed will not be followed up and collected
in case Of o repeal. H...
At the outside, the Constabulary system can.
not cost on On average more than fire cents a
year to each individual In the State, while Il
will save to each fifty times that amount, and
to very many thousands Of times that sum, to say
nothing OF what Is of immensely greater value
reputation. happiness, and even life itself.
In conclusion, have no more interest In the
legislation of last winter than any one else
not 90 much indeed, for have no near friend
in immediate danger from the rum traffic. II
has been charged that personally desired the
Constabulary continued on account Of the sal.
AIRY attached to my position. Where au
known Il Is unnecessary to reply to this, but
will take occasion to say, what / originally
said, that I shall accept no salary for my own
services, but shall gladly give the sum TO the
State to aid In the good work. have taken
the place from high convictions Of duty to God
and my fellow men. and 30 long rs remain In
1t, God helping, shall endeavor to faithfully
do my duty, and my whole duty, conscious
that the work am performing Is one. that Il
lifting burden from many a heart and saving
many son Of promise from drunkard's