, 1874-10-31
History Of Liquor Prohibition in
Maine.
The Prohibitory Law O Fail
uro.
Relulalton Of The Claims Of Leading
Prohibilionists.
HOW The Law Has Increased lntemper-
aflCe.
l7,SO8 Arrests for Drunkenness
l7,SO8 Arrests for Drunkenness
in 1878.
An Array Of Startling statistics.
augusta, Nt. tOet ~, Correspondents Of the Ro,to
Edst

augusta, IL. t0ea ~, Correspondence Of tas Bo,,o
ToA.
I suppose thcro ts hardly q echoo!bov !;
Amertcn who lns not heard Of the NTaine Iinuo
law. Its fame is almost worldwide. sisto
States md great nations havo turnod their owe
hither, thluking to catch tho inspiration OF on
legislative Wisdom. It may not, therefore, b
embarrassing to porssso an impartial history o
sno f'so' progress, workings, and morits Of thl
miracle OF modorn times. For those who do no
elseaay sec through glass darlsy," this un
fafnasheo eketch goeB forth to tho world.
AN EPISODE IN HISTORY,
Let us go back to tho beginning and recoun
the story. It opens with tho birth Of Ma,no ar
State in 1890. Maino was then under q )icenst
law. Still, nm told our fathers wcro vorv ,,c
vout men. They recognized Sunday as boci n.
ning on Saturday. Accordingly, on that even.
ing no person, oxcoft ho DO stranco,
or lodger" WA allowed to froouont
concert or public house for tho
purpose OF drinking or passing his timo, on pon.
slty OF fino of 80 Noxt ycar; in March, 1871
m act was passed for the still .t bottor regulation
OF innholdors, retnilors. mud vtctualcrs." Two
years glidod on. Tho business was profitable
aud prosperous. Now and thon so,no proprietor
abused Ills privilege Another, with broader
WOW to speculation, opened several pIacos OF
ealo. 30 III 1924 tho law was still further amcnd-
ca. by which licenBo was allowed 10 cstcud to
only one place OF retailing md 1t was further
ueciared that any innholaer violating his liccnso
mould not havo 1t roncwcd for tho term of two
years. s1x years moro passed away. Tho Lceis-
iathre or 1880 assembled. Legislative wisdom
gave tho law auothor touch. That year IN act
was approved empowering the "sulectrneu.
treasurer, md Olork !" Of towns to meet on tie
second Monday OF September for the purposo of
granting Licenses for one year. But the solcct-
mon we're not allowed to inacrt in The ucenses
sho words "pcrmisaion to sell to be drauk on Tim
promises, unless they had bcon SO authorized
by the inhabitants, Thus authorized, tboy wore
Ut liberty to permit innholders ITO ac]l vine
brandy, rum. and other spirituous liquors, 10 "a
many persons Of sobcr llfo rs thew may dcom
necessary" Proprietora who did not conform
20 THIS act subjected themselves to a flno Of
water" to Indians on penalty Of 4 fine Of ai0.
In 1884 tue INV WAS still fu1thor modified. Per-
sons licensed were Obliged 10 givo honda in tho
sum Of $500, and no inuloIdor waB allowed to
suffer any revolry, violence, or disordcrly con-
ducs in his house, or suffer any pcssou to dripk
to drunkenness, nndor penalty Of forfeiture Of
pond. In 1876 tho Legislature passed. o sort
OF restrictive not. In towns OF eaa thau n thou
sand 'nhnbtants. soleetmen wero empowered to
appear and request it," likewise two porsous for
evcry town OF over 1900 Inhabitants. and mt
more thau five persons for towns Of over 5000
anhabitanta. These porsonB were to "aell vino.
= brandy. rum, and other spi1ituous liquors " FOR
elvo bonds in the sum Of 5000 am told thot
after tho passage OF this law tho increase of ecs
nesa WIS very noticeable. In 1913 tho law was
amended eng oy the addition Of one word. In 1s1v
from eelliog liquors within nlos Of any cattle
ACT was ten Days imprisonment. Next yoar, 1850.
tho general peiatics Of tho law woro raised d |
bard. toos ground unequlvocally and for tic rst
time III fayor OF Prohibition" It was on ,Jnnc
? TINT year that the famous Neal Dow iaw went
INTO eject; It makes olght printed pages, and ls
rcad.ng." It is entitled An act for essl tho nups
pressIon @ OF d!lnklng-housos, tpphngahops, and
tho salo OF Intoxicating liquors" Selcctmon
%sTe VT IT,, to epp9iint Town Agent who vas to
s n sn Al e5 ohar
gagged II the traffic, on first convection, we're
lined 910 and coats; on the second CONVICTION.
e2o aud costs; and on the third conviction thew
Eero fined $50 aud got .'pot less than tllroo
nent.' By this law also all persons cngaeed in
no liquor trnttio were doclared "not cuulDotent
. s!t upon Jury in any caao ariaing under tho
1ct." For Boiling LIQUORS ut 80 cattle show or
muster" p ono waa subjected, on conviction to
ron-clad law. and 1t may vol 10 questioned If
t has been much improved with all tho obnnpcs
Aas since undergone. In 1853 the Legislature
nSongh. M IL vel, however to giyo tho rope
thl moio stringent, Judges Of Municipal Courts,
ID tho oaths OF ''threo competent witpceses.n i
7erc to lBsuo warrants. aud all liquors, except
ortalu quantities imported under the laws Of
J1t.ifr4 A|1tnr kfr
he parties sel1ing It toincreasetl penalties. Tho
no for the first offense was $50 for the Becond,
'2o aud costa md imprisonment for thirty duyH:
or thu third. $50 and costa and imprisonment
or bixty days; and for the fourth md every
nceoed'ng conviction tLore was imposed a fne
I S2o aud imprisonment for four months.
!ilicera wero dlgent in tho execution OF tho law,
'hoT i7 zeal even lod them to invade private
" 1%ci.nga; e.n The nowspapors we're tlllGd with
l9snger." "a GuilIotiuo Oh Every Corner"
Tho Strong Nulo Of Jacobiua.' " King Alcohol
Doad.' "l,ong Live tho King" Tho tom
einnco I question bcoamo tho aole exciting ISSUE
u February, 1856, members Of The Legislature
ayolable TO prohibition formed temperance
oc1ety. Discussion ran high. I
THE NEAL DOW RIOT.
, - aeW tuontAa later thero cano that trhgfcally
nte1fesltng ovent-the Neal Dow Riot III Port {
'as then Mayor ot tho city. aixteop thousand
oa1aTs 1a worth Of liquors Ind been purchased iu
low York. @ Mayor bow had stated 10 an Aldor-
IAN et1at no had bought tnom on bis own no. t
ount: INC tqnors wero atorod In tho CITY t
eposl.osy u tno basatnent OF OltY-Ilall build G
# +. az, ctty liauor.agepcy bad reonutly boen
stablahed ny tho casting vote Of Dow. It wpB {
IS intention to trnnsfor tho liquors. a. ho saws.
.uo Guy agent aa soon az one could be up t
mntad. Dow's action had excitod war pf Y
ords. tee!lnga or wrath Ind rot among tho !
opulace. On that evening sns iarso ss esEowi as /
athored about tho depository Of theSse liouors. u
lyouio Communists let 70 fsw 0r.okbata. t
Nv windows woro broken. About 10 oniorE aon
ow accompaniment by Capt. Groon aud % nart Of tho /
light Guards, appeared on tho gcono and '
armed tho crowd to disperso An sye.1stnc ",sa caa
and, o. ouce changed tue loinpor of tho multi. u
!de. They rushed around md gave groana ana II
,Bsea." Tic General vas Bilont tor q nomant d
len Ills eyes flashed fire. aud, brundisllln. iia
4ssy sword h'gh in the air, llo gave tho or,lor.
Flrat section, lira." Tho troops romaiued mo, a
on!eas Tho order was not obeyod. Thon !.
Ilchbats flow fastor than ever. Capt. Qroon'a /
'mpany y retlrod. Tho police, who wsre guur- b
y the iqaora. comnloncou firing pistols luu ,iei "
aIy with powder A Bha1u fight was kept IN n
y 81, about Il o'o!ock, when Con. Dow mud hIa !"