The Portland daily press., 1883-07-30
CAMPMEETINGS.
The Temperance Meeting at Maranc-
cook Congressman Dinsley on the
Prohipitory Amendment

The third annual temperance campmeetiug
at Lake Maranccook opened with unfavorable
weather Saturday, yet large crowd was in at
tendance. Several trains came in well laden.
Chandlers band, the Deering Zouaves Mrs.
Sturgis, Mrs. Bent and Miss Webb arrived on
the Portland train. Among prominent arrivals
were Gov. Robie, ex.Gov. Perham, B. G. Tor.
sey, Grand Worthy Chief Templar of Maine,
Rev. III. @. Munson, Secretary of the State AL
lance, Mrs. Barstow, State Superintendent of
the Juvenile Temples. J. X. Osgood, Rev. A.
g. Ladd and others.
In the afternoon Congressman Dingley de-
livered an address on the proposed pfohibitory
amendment to the constitution of Maine. The
defeat OF the amendment, he said, would be
regarded as verdict against the prohibitory
system. 1t is therefore proper to consider just
what the prohibitory law has accomplished in
Maine. 1t is conceded that prohibition gener-
ally succeeds In banishing dram shops from
public sight. but it is claimed that it only
drives them TO hidden corners. Ii this we're all
that IL gained by prohibition, il would DO a
great advantage, for the temptation offered by
an open dram shop, given certificate OF re-
spectabiity by law, and Offering those tempta-
q ons to the weak and inexperienced as they
are compelled to pass by, are much more dam
Qerous than the temptations afforded by a se-
oret dram shop, forced to hide In secret corners
which nobody encounters unless he Is seeking
for them.
Circulars have recently been sent by Maine
newspaper to some one or more reliable citizen
In every town in Maine, asking for Information
as to the extent of open and secret dram sell
ling, the number of arrests for drunkenness
during the past year. and other facts bearing
on the question of the practical working of
prohibition In this State. Answers have been
received from every city, all the large towns,
and large portion of the rural towns in every
county In the State. Assuming that the towns
| yet to come In will show the same average as
| those already returned, there are as open dram
| shops In Maine, outside OF Bangor, and these
| In only fifteen towns and a43 secret or suspect
| ed places in which liquor may be obtained as
beverage, with more or less difdculty--making
| 500 In all, or one TO over 1000 inhabitants
| The results of this inquiry show that not
| withstanding 493 persons paid taxes as dealers
| in the fourteen cities of Maine, yet the whole
| number OF known or suspected dram shops re-
| ported In these cities is only 432-156 OF these
| being reported as practically open in three
cities (t34 OF them In one city, and ZIG as ''se-
cret or suspected places" In the remaining
| 486 towns only 100 dealers are reported, and
these, with 20 exceptions In twelve towns, are
all put down as only secret or suspected.
To indicate what the correspondence mean
| by ''secret or suspected places" the following
| extracts from their remarks will be OF value.
| mot certain, but think there is one place in
| town where the initiated may obtain liquor.
1.-TWO places that have been searched and
| liquor found secreted, and they are still be-
lieved to sell now on the sly, although we are
watching them"
"Ten places in this city kept in dwelling