Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-25
@istellaneous.
THE ORIGIN OF THE "MAINE LAMP


Gen. Neal Dow, in series of commu-
nications showing the necessity of the le-
gal prohibition of drinking houses and
tippling shops, gives the following inter-
esting account of the circumstances which
gave birth to the now famous Maine
Law" -
Many years ago was sent for by a poor
woman who was in distress. She had sew
en- or eight. young children and drunken
husband, who held a responsible place in
an important position. lie was then off
'on beer, and his chief had threatened to
discharge him, in which case the family
would be without resources, and must 90
upon the town. The salary paid to this
man was sufficient for the comfortable
maintenance of the family, but every
thing had been spent from year to wear,
80 that there was no recourse against a day
OF trouble, and the loss of the situation
by the husband, would instantly bring
them to absolute destitution.
The poor wife said there was one Lar
ticular rum shop visited by her husband.
the keeper of which had great influence
over him, and if this man would refuse to
sell him any liquor, and would advise him
TO come home, he would do so, and would
soon be over this turn and would be able
to resume his duties. Unless this could be
done soon, she said, he would be made
SICK and the chief would not be able to
wait for his recovery, but would employ
anotherin his place. The scene was most
deplorable; this poor woman in feeble
health, with the whole care of these chill
dren, doing all the work for the family,-
while her husband was away at a rum
shop-spending the money desperately
needed at homeland incurring the i'm
minent hazard of losing his situation, and
SO being bundled off to the work house
with wife and children, whom he was
abundantly able to support, but for the
intervention of the rum shops between him
and them.
Where is this internal grog shop, Il ask
ed. In such street she said; Jenny 90
and show this gentleman where it is She
has often been there to try and bring her
father home. Entering the shop l said, is
Mr.. Sampson here? No he's been gone
from here two hours At the same time l
heard loud talking, swearing and fighting
IN the dark, back room and went for the
door, before which the rumseller placed
himself to bar my way. Thrust him aside
and entered the vile place, steaming with
rum and tobacco and resounding with the
oaths and ribald talk of four drunken men,
one OF whom was Sampson
took him suddenly by the arm brought
him to his feet with jerk, and out into
the light of the front room, surrounded by
the rumseller and his victims, who want
ed to see whats up
Look you,I said to the rumseller-.this
mans wife and children are at home suf-
iering Tor the money he's spending with
t.,rT Tt,y IL h,, L. L
three days, having spent all this time in
your shop, He is in danger of losing his
place and then they must all 90 to the
workhouse. His wife saws if YOU will refuse
to sell him rum, he will not 90 elsewhere
for it, and she can make him fit in a day
or two, to go to his desk again, otherwise
she fears they will come to beggary.'
"Well. that's my business to sell rum.''
he said, ''it's none of my business if men
get drunk and abuse their families; I've
got family to support as well as others,
and the way do it is by selling rum.'
: Yes, but in this case, you see the ruin it
is working in this mans tamily'-he broke
in-'Look here, | don't want none of your
preaching; it's my business to sell rum:
III sell 1t to him andto any other man who
has got the money to pay, and as long as
they can pay, it's none of my hunt if they
get drunk and abuse their families: I've
got license to sell rum, SO help yourself
II you can; l don't want any of your ad-
vice, when do FL send for you so there
now you've got the whole story.
You have license, have you, for sell
ing rum? You are empowered by law,
are you to destroy your neighbor, body
and soul, and bring their wives and chil-
dren to the Aims House? You support
Your family do you, by destroying other
peoples families? Well, Heaven helping
me, III see if all that can't be changed"
And that's the beginning of the Maine Law
Many brave and true men from that day
commenced in Maine-in every part OF
Maine-an unceasing agitation for the
suppression of the rum trade. In every
Country Meeting House, in every country
Town House was the fact proclaimed that
the rum trade was in deadly hostility to
every interest of the State and to the well
fare and happiness of the people. The
result was the Maine Law Sc to 40 in the
Honse and IS to 10 in the Senate, and its