Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-28
TEMPERANCE IN PORTLAND.

The sale of liquors IN our sister city of
Portland is, as good many Of our people
are aware, entirely unrestricted, 10 all practi-
cal lntents and purposes. The prohibitory
law is enforced less strictly than in this CITY.
Dissatisfied with this condition of things. n
large number of citizens who favor the en-.
torcement OF the law have Just organized
Law and Order League, with the purpose of
thoroughly enforcing the law. At recent
meeting of the league an executive commit
tee consisting of nineteen men, representing
various business interests, was appointed. to
assist by all legitimate means in carving
out the purpose OF the organization and a
resolution was passed requesting all "order
loving citizens to consider themselves men,
bers OF this League. l, is the hope of the
organizers OF the League to be able, through
the efforts OF its executive Committee, with
The cooperation OF large number of other
citizens, representing many kinds OF business
interests, 10 put complete stop to the sale
of,liquors in every saloon, drug store and hotel
IN Portland. Such an organization has many
obstacles to contend with, and one of them
is well decribed by the Portland Press when
1t says; ut is fashionable to vote for prohi
bition; but the trouble is that large part of
the community think they have done their
whole duty when they have got law on the
statute book, although some think it will be
greater triumph to get prohibition into the
constitution. But neither laws nor conslitu-
lions enforce Themselves, and laws and men,
allies may be multiplied indifinitely yithon,
SURPRISING liquor selling unless the public
opinion of the community, not simnlv tic
chrgymen and few besides, but its earnest
controlling citizens resolve to suppress it,"
Another obstacle is the active opposition OF
he entire liquor interest, which as everybody
KNOWS, exerts very powerful Influence
ihis opposition In Portland has taken some.
"hat novel forR-ihat of regular organiza-
l'on' which will contest the ground with the
La" ana order League. The new orgauizo-
lion includes all the hotel proprietors, saloon
keepers, druggists and those grocers who sell
liquors and 1t has membership of more
than five hundred, which will soon be in.
creased TO something like thousand
ihese men propose to boycott the tenn
perance organization They propose to
refuse to buy goods of any kind
OF any man who is memhe,
OF the Law and Order League. Tho
Portland Argus says when it is remem.
bered that the hotels alone disburse owe,
$1,000 each week, TO say nothing of their
influence on the places where their beln do
their trading, this would appear no trivial
matter to those business men who are con.
meeting themselves with the League. Then
add the influence and trade of druggists
restaurant keepers, and grocerymen, and
there would appear TO be powerful lever ia
pry many business man out of the Law and
Order League"
ibis Is very pretty scheme, but as it is a
poor rule that won't work both ways. how
wouldit DO for the temperancc men to boycott
the rumsellers5 Certainly Portland can not
anord TO TO have such men, usipg such
means; win the day. The people who do not
approve OF rumselling as a business must
form the large majority of the citizens of
Portland; hsw would 1t do for them to refuse
TO do any business with the rumsellers and
their alies7