The Portland daily press., 1878-01-17
How the Danger was AveIted.

The Democratic House is wrapped In deep
gloom. Intemperance, the bane Of Demo-
cratic statesmen, threatens to make wild
work with the majority. As long as the
Democrats were in a hopeless minority it
mattered little il the whole of them went
out to take drink while vote was pend
ing. Nor was the habit very harmful, in a
party point of view, in the last House. Per-
haps the Democrats were sobered by their
unexpected success though that is not prob
able. Anyhow where there was majority
of seventy, at least fifty could saunter out
and take snifter without endangering Dem
ocratic supremacy. But the people have
changed all that, and the majority is now so
meagre that bitters seriously interfere with
business. Once or twice the Republicans
have secured the House while their oppo-
nents were dallying with the wine-cup.
The Democratic leaders never seem to
have fully realized the evils of strong drink
until the failure to defeat the army bill at the
extra session. Then they took alarm and
hastily called a conference to devise ways to
deal with the liquor curse-not that they
loved rum less but other cussedness more.
structed to enforce the rule prohibiting the
sale of Intoxicating liquors at the House res
taurant. This supposed remedy however,
only magnifed the disease. The offending
members tried in vain to control their thirst.
The old appetite would-perhaps while a
U0fQ toyan-nnnnn 70 RI thop, in o+r
sudden sort of way and they would bolt for
the nearest bar-room, leaving the Republic
ans scofing and triumphant. The Sergeant
alarms was appealed to, but could do moth
ing, he said, unless his force was greatly in
creased and large sum expended for wheel
barrows. As it was found the wheelbarrows
could not be reckoned in with the stationery
his request was not complied with.
The leaders stood this sort of thing as long
as they could. But when the SANDER
bureau bill, upon which all their hopes OF
success in the coming Fall campaign were
based, failed Thursday because of absentee
ism, they resolved upon immediate action.
a caucus was called and the evil and its REM
edy discussed at great length. Many propo-
sitions were made, but none proved entirely
satisfactory. 1t was at first thought best to
send for Murphy, but on reflection fear came
upon the caucus that the reform might
prove too thorough and the offenders
be converted into good Republicans. A
New England representative suggested
that the members carry bottles and
duck under their desks and take
pull when they felt dry. This plan had
been thoroughly tested in his section and
worked well. But there was fierce opposi-
tion to this in the caucus. An Ohio man
swore that he always took his corn-juce per-
pendicular, and by the Lord Harry he wasn't
going to scooch when he wanted a snifter.
A Kentucky man said he invariably took
sugar in his. A chivalric representative from
Virginia, beaming with Southern hospitality,
remarked that it was rule Of his life never
to drink alone, and South Carolinian rose
and protested that he should not dare to face
his constituents sab, If he declined to likker
up when asked by gentleman. The propo-
sition was defeated as being too sectional In
its character, there being but five votes in its
favor. Many other proposals were made
one that whiskey reservoir be placed in the
dome with supply pipes leading to the desks;
but the suggestion was made that the party
was not yet quite strong enough to afford to
shock the moral sentiment of the community.
Finally, after long and at times angry dis
cussion the following plan was hit upon as
temporary expedient: The Democratic men,
bers were divided into squads of six, and it
was ordered that but one squad should 60 out
at time; thus there would always be ma
jority in the House. The plan was at first
received with general enthusiasm; but little
reckoning soon convinced some of the men,
bers that it would be a long while between
drinks. Opposition was quieted however, by
the announcement that this arrangement
should only be in force until the House could
be 'purifed', that is until enough Republic
cans were unseated and enough Democrats
put in their places to permit large increase
in the size of the squads and as consequence
in the frequency of drinks. With this under
standing the caucus adjourned. 1t is init
mated that the committee have already de-
cided to unseat Pacheco of California and
Field of Massachusetts. These changes with
the admission of Patterson of Colorado make
gain of three-and the good work is scarcely
begun.