Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-10-11
The Maine Law in Maine.
IA the Editor of the PortIand Press

Sir.-Within few weeks some of the
| leading newspapers of New York and Bos-
| ton have had anonymous letters purport-
| ing to come from Portland and Bangor. in
which were set forth elaborately the mis-
| chief OF the Maine Law to the material in
| terests as well as to the good morals OF the
state. These communications have been
extensively copied into the press of the
Western States, of Canada and the Prov
inces.
A letter In the Boston Post said that the
population OF Bangor in 1852 was "a, 746,
and that as the result of the prohibition of
drinking houses and tipping shops 1t had
been run down in 1877 to 10 $50 And all
the rest OF the statements of the article
were as unfounded as this. The popula-
tion of Bangor in 1900 was 277; ISl0.S50; +;
1920. 1921; 1870. .2S6S; 1910, 1884; 1850.
14.432; 1850, I6,40S; 1770, Is, s,2S9; and
now 1t may be and probably is 10, $50 The
same writer says that in consequence of
prohibition to the grog shops the debt of
Bangor has run up from SIPS 900 twenty
seven years ago to S700.00O with rail
road liability of SO 900 900. Now this debt
has not the remotest connection with pro-
hibition, but has risen from the indebted
ness for the water works and city aid to
railroads. the interest on which is paid by
the railroads. as | understand.
A letter in the Sun of New York pur-
porting to come from Portland.says Be-
sides depriying the state of a large propor-
ton of its revenue, the law has driven
away vast amount OF business never to
return. There is not a word of this true,
unless the drunkard making trade NAV be
called business, and it is true that the
law has driven away "A vast amount OF
that. bnt no useful and legitimate business
has been hindercd or harmed, but on the
contrary all such occupations, of whatever
SORT have been greatly benefited. and the
state never at any time derived penny Of
revenue from the rum trade, but on the
contrary, has suffered infinite harm aud
damage and loss from il in many ways
The millions OF dollars which, but for
the law, would be spent in Maine in the
LIQUOR trade, are now spent among butch
ers. bakers, hatters, tailors, shoemakers.
bIilders-in short with every useful occu-
patton and goes TO support the legitimate
business of the state, stimulating trade in
every branch oft, except that branch
which makes poverty, pauperism aud
crne. and fills warehouses; and prisons |
The Maine law contributes to the wealth |
and material prosperity of the state, not |
only TO the full extent of the money saved |
by "squelching" the liquor trade, but to |
an amount equal 10 that which has always /
been estimated at dollar for dollar for |
every penny spent in it. And in fact the |
business Of Portland now, in many branches |
OF trade is better than 1t ever has been at
any former period of its history, rs am
assured by many Of our most prominent !
business men who have the best opportu-
mites for forming a reliable opinion upon
the subject
Although the fact IS 50, there are men
even now. here in Portland. who saw the
cltv ls going 10 the dogs, because the groy
shops are shut up. Not long ago nv friend
John /. Walton went around among a
great crowd OF people collected at Barnum's
famous show; he wished to see If there
"a' as much drunkenness as there used 10
D" on such occasions IN the old times. He
II" pht one man 4ps!"Gn itt-- .---I-- pamn
hr man that made the Maine Law; he ;
uined Portland damn him.
Now there are many people VINO, for one
-eaSon or another. are or the same opin-
on; some of them for this mans reason,
,Omc possibly for some other reason;
hat there is not il shadow of a tact 10 just
fy the opinion that the suppression Of the
iquor traffic has injured or can possibly
uiure the buSint Of the state, or any
moral or material interest OF Il, while the
-esson> are numerous and obvious that
Justify the opinion that the Maine Law
adds and must promote 70 : 'a>t extent
every interest OF the s-ate hhu pt"ple'
The writer 10 The sun shld thAt the ro-
hibitlon party Is so strong IN Mhlhe thaV
he "Drmocratlc STATE convention uare
not put license pIahh INTO tne pIatior III
pf the party" The writer lbels the Dem
Dcratic party by assigning such reason
for its action The Convention voted down
III ..rft,
enthusiastic cheers, resolution taVorihs
licensed groE shops. because IL WAS rishl
70 DC 80. and not because thry "trc e"h-
strained :" II by fear. happen % hho"