The Portland daily press., 1878-08-06
Prohibition In New Hampshire.

GORHAM n. d., Aug D, 1873.
On Saturday last at special town meeting,
called to act upon the "Lager Beer Bill" so
called, which has passed the present session of
our legislature and becomes a law in all towns
when by majority vote it shall be 60 decided,
1t was voted without dissenting voice being
heard to adopt the provisions of the bill, thus
ranking us as the first town in our state which
has taken this action, and that before the
adjournment of the legislature at which it was
passed. ,-.. .4.
Three years ago this could not have been
can we'll remember the discouragiug condition
In which we were placed, there being q few
only who had the courage to do battle with the
rum fend which was destroying so many Of
our people and which from more than dozen
stronehoids openly bid defiance to law and
order, but then came time when reinforced
by the grand reform movement and the noble
band Of reform men, who gathered around the
temperance banner, the scene changed, and
where once intemperance reigned and public
sentiment was strongly in favor of rum and
8the rumseller, now temperance sits enthroned,
back by public sentiment 80 strong that the
few who still cling to the old order Of things
have not the courage to bid open defiance and
all is well. tah
] No town can boast greater change than
ours A large number of men who once
revelled in the wine cup, are now sober men
and good citizens, and families where once the
rum fend held high carnival and3 wretchedness
and want were daily, visitors, now boast of
loving husbands and fathers redeemed from
= the curse. and prosperity and happiness have
come to make glad the hearts and the homes,
and alt this 10 the direct result of the reform
movement which under God has done, and is
doing such . wonderful work for temperance
and good order.
= for while we had good and wholesome legisla-
" 10 reach the smaller beers which are the
kindlnes OF aPPesit0, auo wnUn unao- 80. 0id
Law was held only to be intoxicating when 2
jury of twelve men should SO decide. With
this holding conviction was impossible, we
had tried it and failed, and have all the time
greatly felt the need of some direct act to meet
the case, as In the case of the cider business,
local option cider laws. which as now we
made effectnal in onr town by our votes.
The following is the bill as passed and upon
which our action OF Saturday was taxed, which
may % OF interest to our temperance friends
SECT. 1. If any person, not being an agent of a
town or city for the purpose of selling spirituous
liquors. shall sell, or keep for sae. lager beer or
other malt liquors not included in the list of those
already prohibited by law, such person shall be fined
ten dollars for the first ofense, and for every subse
quent offense fifty dollars.
Scot. 2. Complaints under this act shall be prose-
cuied In the same manner provided in the general
statutes regulating the sale of spirtuous and ntoxi
eating liquors.
SECT. 8. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent
with the provisions OF this act hereby repealed
SECT. 4. This act shall be enforced only In such
towns as shall, by majority vote, go decide.
The reform club yesterday passed appropriate
resolutions commencing the legislature, etc.,