The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-09

At the regular weekly meeting of the Asso-
citation on Saturday evening, after the reading
| of the records, the following persons were
elected members of the Association Eugene
| ii. Ford, ]. A. King, p G.. Larrabee. A. L.
| Fox, Frank. Fowler, Justice Greedy, Edward
B. Cook, J. H. Eaton, II. B. Keazer, Prentiss
| Loring, Chas D. Munger, H. c. Rich, Level
len Kidder, John Randall tAAtt
The subject for discussion continued from
the last evening, was taken mp in the affirma-
tive by Mr.. Fling, who yielded the floor to Mr.
Fredk. N. Dow, he having given away at the
last meeting to allow the negative to respond
Mr.. Dow made some very pointed and sharp
remarks in reply to Mr.. Jose's assertions in op-
| position to the resolution. Mr. Dow is a very
ready and rapid speaker, and made clear and
concise argument, supported by yoluminous
| statistics in favor of the question.
| Mr.. Chas. Fl. Haskell replied in the negative
| in his usual frank and earnest manner, object
ing to Mr.. BOWS statistics, as he had not pro-
| vided for other than general review of the
workings ofthe Maine Law and its amendments
and its political strength in this State Mr.. H.
argued that the Maine Law was not popular
with the people and had no right on the stat
ute books. HE .}ai .sl
MT. Dow again replied, controverting some
of the remarks of Mr.. Haskell,
Mr.. Jose followed in humorous and inter,s
esting address, diselaiming any elaborate
knowledge of eminent law makers, and that
he did not assume to possess any extensive
knowledge of law, He did not pronounce the
prohibitory law Illegal, but he considered it
absolutely absurd to legislate on mans diet as
to what he SHOULD drink or eat or in what con-
dition he should eat or drink. He considered
that the law was wrong in its theory. He did
not believe in licensing, but was an advocate
OF moral suasion; that legislating against eat
Ing or drinking is nuisance, and that the
temperance question had been entirely de-
bauched by the Incorporate execu lion of pro-
hibitory laws by the temperance men, and that
as a result there is at the present day more
liquor drank than there was thirty years ago,
and that the more the temperance law is
"tinkered" the more vile become the LIQUORS
drank-though he disclaimed being an appol-
oglst for rumsellers, for, since the days of the
Maine Law, he must admit that the character
OF rumsellers had degenerated sadly.
MIR. Fling followed in the affirmative express
having the opportunity of speaking in favor of
question Of such vital importance to the CON-
munity, morally and socially He considered
that the rumseller was guilty of any crime
committed by person made drunk and insane
upon the liquor purchased of the rumseller
Mr.. Jose interrupted Mr. Fling, when sharp
but amusing passage at arms ensued.
Mr.. Fling coutinued.-He claimed that it
was absurd to state that the prohibitory Law
had made bad rum. .. al,tt s4.
The debate was listened to with the most in
tense interest by large audience to a late
hour, and as it had ELECTED such general in
terest, it was found impossible to dispose of
the question that evening. The meeting adj
journed until next Saturday, when the argu-
ments will be continued on both sides. We
are glad to note the increased interest that is
manifested in those interesting meetings