The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-06-07
BY HON. NEAL DOW.

| the connecticut Temperance Union
relating to the extent Of the liquor
traffic in Maine under prohibition,
and in Connecticut under the policy
of license.
The statement is that in Maine,
with population larger than that of
Connecticut by 26,236 persons, there
are but 991 retail dealers in alcoholic
liquors and 81 wholesale dealers, with
no brewery and no distillery; while in
Connecticut there are $3.50 retail deal
ers and 118 wholesale dealers, with IA
rectifers, while Maine has none and
81 distilleries and % breweries.
But this statement is very far from
being full account of the actual diff
ference between Connecticut and
Maine as to the extent of the liquor
traffic carried on in each state. 1t is
fair to assume that in Connecticut,
these $3.50 retailers and 119 wholesale
dealers keep open shops and places of
business where stocks of liquors are
openly displayed, larger or smaller, in
quantity according to the demand of
the several localities. There is no
reason to suppose that there is any
concealment about this, because in
that state the trade is legitimate, being
established and protected by the law
But in Maine the trade is absolutely
forbidden; there is no licensed liquor
shop of any kind here. By provis-
| ion of our law, liquors when suspected
as intended for sale may be seized
without warrant wherever they may
be found; and if the owner can be
identified, he is arrested and must
show to the satisfaction of the court,
that the liquors were not intended for
sale, when they were surrendered to
him; but failing in this, he is held as
having liquors in possession intended
for unlawful sale, and must pay one
hundred and costs and go to jail six
months, and the liquors are destroyed
When in any inn or shop or
other place of business, it is suspected
that liquors are sold or kept for sale
in violation of law, it may be searched
in Lhe same way as stolen goods would
be searched for; the liquors, if found
are seized as stolen or smuggled goods
would be, and the owner or keeper is
arrested upon the spot and brought
before the court to answer to the
charge Of selling Intoxicating liquors
or keeping them for sale, in violation
of law
These searches are conducted in the
most careful and thorough manner of
which [ will mention some examples
and they occur more or less every day.
l. A place was searched, not shop,
but low and dirty hole where man
and woman lived. Nothing whatever
could be found in the alcoholic line.
At last, the cookiDg-stove was care
fully examined, and under the oven, in
the ash-pit, the entrance to which was
closed by "a plate one-half by five
inches in size, six flat half-pint bottles
of whisky was found and dragged
out. One hundred dollars and costs
and six months Jail.
2. In another place, searched care
fully above and below, no sign what
ever of liquor was discovered; but in
the cellar was an open well, the water
in which was within twelve inches Of
the top. One of the officers passed
his cane around the we'll and it en-
countered an obstacle. Putting his
hand into the water, he found a nail
foot below the surface, to which were
fastened five or six strings and to each
string bottle Of whisky. One hun
dred dollars and costs and six months
jail
3. In another case the place was
searched thoroughly without any ap-
pearance Of liquor; but in cock-loft
was bed, which was moved away,
and beneath it was found a small
trap-door, which concealed a jug Of
whisky. One hundred dollars and
costs and six months Jail.
4. Another place was carefully
searched, and, at last, the officers eX-
amined the pig-pen, beneath the floor
of which was found a gallon jug Of
whisky Same fine, same jail.
5. Another place was carefully
searched for liquors, but in vain. The
officers had satisfactory information
that liquors were really sold by the
woman of the den. At last, they saw
that she was abnormally broad in the
hips. Hand out those bottles hidden
under your skirt" they said. She
swore by the howly vargin that there
were no bottles there. Hand them
out" the officer said, "or well search
you. Hand them out, and be quick
about it," She raised her outer skirt,
and from each side, unlocked from
the belt bottle, one of rum and one
OF whisky. One hundred dollars and
costs, and six months Jail.
All these cases are within my own
| knowledge, and l might continue the
list of others like them, enough to fill
columns of The Independent; but
these will suffice to show what sort of
native liquor shops we have in Maine,
and what their stocks of liquors are,
and what the extent Of the trade is.
/ Officers meet trains at the stations and
steamboats, at their | findings, t. seize
liquors at sight, if any should be on
board. Now, all these low, vile liquor
sellers pay the United States Special
Tax" and figure in the list as equals
in the iquor-selling business, with
the open rum-shops of Connecticut
with large, regular stocks Of liquors
openly displayed to all comers and tC
all passers by.
These people pay the Especial Tax
: so as not to encounter the penalties Of