Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-07-01
TEMPERANCE DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by
THE GOOD TEMPLARS OF MULBERRY.
PROHIBITION IN MAINE.
BY GOV. DINGLEY.
Prohibition has stopped

QlSlllleQ anu leIIllcHicQ IAQ uOl .
in Maine. In 1886, when our
population was less than two
thirds of what it is to-day, there
were thirteen distilleries in this
State, which manufactured over
two gallons of rum to each in
habitant, nearly all of which
was consumed in this State.
To-day there is not a single dis
tillery or brewery in Maine.
4th. Prohibition has well
nigh stopped the traffic in in
toxicating liquorsin therural dis
tricts of Maine. Forty-five years
ago all the country stores sold
intoxicating liquors as freely as
molasses or calico. For exam
pie, the town of Durham, with
less than 1900 inhabitants, had
in 1882, seven licensed grog
shops. To-day there is not a
drop of liquor sold in town.
Readfield had in 1882, seven o.
pen bars, at which were sold p
800 gallons of spirits annually.
Now none is sold to be used as
a beverage. Mimic Ghen in
Guiding AuburE) with a popu-
lation of 2,903 in 1888, had
thirteen grogshops. Now these
towns, with a population of-1O,-
600, have not a single place
where liquor is known to be
sold as a beverage.
5th. Fifty years ago, even
IN our rural districts, nearly ev-
cry male drank liquor. Liquors
were kept in most of the houses
to treat callers. Nobody thought
of having company or a raising
without having supply of ar
dent spirits. AT mustcrs and
other public gatherings, drunk
enness and drunken affrays were
common. Now three-fourths of
the males III the rural districts
are total abstinents, and the
practice of keeping liquor in
the house to treat callers has
practically ceased. 1t would
be an objectionable offense to
furnish spirits to public meet
ing. AT large public gatherings,
cases of intoxication are sur
prisingly few, and drunken al
tercations rare. This improve
ment is strikingly shown by
statistics. In 1888, Secretary
Pond, of the Maine Temperance
Association, reported that in the
town of Alfred, there were 90
men and 3 women, accustomed
to get beastly drunk; in Ken-
nebunk, So notorious drunk
ards; i'll Topsham, population
| 1854, 40 drunkards; i'll New
Gloucester, 40; Pennington, 80;
Wayne, 80. Recent reports
from these towns show that the
present number Of notorious
drunkards in these and other
towns is one-eighth, and many
towns say not one-lenth of what
it was forty years ago. The re-
port also shows marked i'm
provement in the condition of
the people.
6. In the cities and large vii
lages,representing less than one
fourth of Maine, the improve
ment is less marked than in the
rural districts, although unde-
niably real, even there. There
are three reasons for this less
neutrality-suspicious.
er facilities that vice has TO hide
itself in a crowded population
1.-THE concentration there of q for
eign population which has come
into this State within the last
thirty years-and the resort to
the city Of the drinking men
still left the in rural regions, fol
supplies of liquor. If the cities
had simply held their own un,
der these circumstances,it would
be a great gain. But they have
done more than this. As rule
: there are no open dramshops e.
ven here. Occasionally, through
: the failure to elect both city Of
: ficials and county sheriifs friend
? ly to prohibition, the law viii
/. be neglected, and open dram
J., shops will appear here and there
: This is the case ut the presen
time in two or three cities. Blu
J generally speaking even i'll tht
:, cities, intoxicating liquors ar
! ! to be found only by those wh'
= know the signs and password
l of the liquor fraternity-anC
= then mainly in cases kept b,
); ! foreigners. The open dram
u shop tempts no one. In tn
c cities of Lewiston and Auburn
with u population of 3O,OOC
S there is not single open dram
e shop, and no hotel has even
IS secret bar. In the larger citie
If there are many cases OF drunk
: enness, but three-fourths OF ther
o are OF foreigners, who resort t
II the most desperate expedient
d to obtain a supply of liquor. a
: confirmed incbriates in the rur;
y districts are obliged to resort t
the cities to obtain their pota