Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-22

IL was said that Boss Tweed OF New
York once remarked that he did not care
what the newspapers published about him.
for most OF his constituents could not
read. But he was anxious to suppress the
cartoons OF Harper's Weekly; because all
could see the meaning Of those engravings.
1t was with something OF this idea that
we procured, at q considerable expense,
the above maps representing " Liquordom
in New York City"-not that many OF our
subscribers are unable 10 read, but be-
cause pictures impress the mind more
forcibly than bare facts In words.
These maps, made from an actual survey
OF the territory, tell tale which cannot
be set aside nor dsproved by the cry PRO
hibition In Maine is failure" Here is a
little territory 33S by is6 yards in extent,
containing al liquor saloons "where
whiskey reigns." The other section, 6ls
by 54S yards contains S03 saloons.
Neither one OF these tracts embraces land
enough to make respectable OXFORD
County farm, and yet each has enough
saloons to make fair sized country vii
laye. No such black spot can be pointed
to In the most thickly populated portions
of Maine, even where the law Is most
slsckly enforced.
People who do not travel, but who see
that au occasional old topper secures his
poatlons of poor whiskey, are apt to be
deceived about the working of prohibition
in Maine. Because little liquor comes
into their section, and terrible stories are
told about Portland and Bangor, they think
that nothing has been accomplished. VIZ
trust these little charts may lead some
such to consider the question more care
fully before they vote on our constitution
al amendment, next year.
The multiplicity of these saloons III IL
cense States, is not the whole story. They
are right at hand, open day and evening
nothing secret about them except the bar
tenders secret method of compromising
some favorite beverage-offering induce
ments for young and old to enter. An.
one of these saloons will sell In year
more liquor than comes into any town II
fOxford County, we venture to assert. :
heavy license is paid to the city; Unite'
States license Is taken out at cost
s25; rents range from six hun dred q
three thousand dollars per year, Tor
store; competent bar tenders have to b
paid; taxes must be met; the owner mus
clear enough to pay for his own Twin:
and drinks, and he is called upon to fui
nish free drinks on all conceivable occa
sions. To meet ali these expenses, yer
large sum must be received annually
larger. we believe, than is expended 10
liouor in any of our rural towns. 1t ma
be well to state tor the benefit OF thos
unacousinted with New York city, tina
the sections mapped oct are way dow
, town, near the East Rivera sectlo
inhabited by the poorer classes OF peopI
who occupy immense tenement houses
and mostly live from hand to mouth. Tn
is a section where poverty abounds, as
always abouuds where liquor saloons al
numerous. But this is just the elias
which suffers most from free liquor.
The laboring man in Maine takes n
, dollar or dollar and a half per day, and vii
IL makes himself comfortable. In fe
r years, by prudent management he ms
own his home and enjoy many OF the con
forts of country life. He cannot spend h
money for liquor except by an effort. Z
the other hand the laborer' where ru
!, shops abound, spends q portion OF d
earnings in them, for that which aa'
neither to his comfort nor his happines
and forces him to struggle along In able
}. poverty through life. The difference o
tween the laboring men in license ota''
l. and in prohitory Maine, is most marke
y We believe that just here is the field