The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-19

club rooms is threefold that which formerly
took place at open bars. Yet in the face Of
these facts, and notwithstanding that prohibi-
ton does not prohibit, the Republican conyen-
ton, each year, endorses the farce, and the
Republican leaders hypocritically claim that
they are interested in the cause Of temperance,
and that the prohibitory law does actually pre-
vent intemperaHce (when they kno,o better)
and for that reason, they ask for the votes of
temperance men to sustain them. Every in
with the political history of this state, knows
that the Republican party has, for years, made
prohibition subterfuge with which to "rope
in" the temperance vote, and hobby upon
which 70 ride into power. Yet, to-day. our
Democratic leaders ask you to take the same
dishonorable and hypociitical position. when
they know that nine-tenths OF the Democratic
party believe prohibition to be failure, q
farce and fraud. My friends, the cause of
temperance is too dear and too sacred to be
made the cheap theme of political hypocrisy.
Yod can't make man temperate by law.
When an army is to be moved up to the
heights, where great battle is to be fought,
each man must raise himself there, step by
step, his feet, all the time, on solid ground.
So, when men would climb to higher levels in
social morals, they must de it by intelligent
personal endeavor. 1t can't be done by dep
uty sheriff behind each man, kicking in the
rear. l reiterate that our prohibitory law is a
positive detriment to the cause of temperance,
oil upUu tuo utTCdutll6 lQt6T6SLS VI
Maine, and curse to the city of Portland. As
such, it ought to be repealed, and you ought to
have the courage to say SO.
By this time the convention had reused from
its lethargy, and was wide awake. Here was
prospect of good old fashioned Democratic
shindy in which every man wished to take
part. And nearly every man did. Amid loud
cries for the question the chairman took the
vote and declared that the amendment was
carried. The vote was doubted, and was again
taken by tellers, the result being declared for
the amendment 220, against 1t Ill. Then
pandemonium broke loose. The delegates
were on their feet in moment. The license
men cheered, their oppo nents derisively
howled. E. f. Pillsbury .ushed to the front of
the platform and declared with much heart
that the vote was no fair test, that the resolu-
tion had been sprung upon the delegates and
the convention packed. The widest confusion
followed this declaration. The speaker was
howled down. In all parts of the hall men were
-ahautias themselves hoasse, and Missing,
screeching, splitting and swearing. Mr.. Cliff
ford jumped excitedly to his feet, and accused
Mr.. Pilfsbury of slandering the convention.
For at least ten minutes the chairman could
not make himself heard. Finally he restored
partial order and announced his willingness to
listen to the protest of Mr.. Pillsbury, and
take another VOTE Then the howl rose again.
The license men were not disposed to yield
their advantage, and the prohibitionists
determined to bolt rather than submit There
was storm for while. Everybody spoke at
once. The chairman at last "got on his ear"
and told tha wnuld.ha snaakara that tho oop
vention did not want to hear them. poll of
the house was agreed upon, but after the
division the license men thought their Cd.
ponents were drawing recruits from the
loterers about the door, and refused to submit.
Finally it was agreed to take the vote by
counties. and it resulted thus: