The Republican journal., 1884-09-18
The History of Prohibition IN Maine.

The original prohibiory law of this State
was enacted in 1851. and approved by Governor
Hubbard June of the same year. The Legis-
| lature of that year was Democratic one and
Governor Hubbard was serving his third year
as Democratic Governor. A few years later,
| however, the law was repealed by the Demo-
Gratis, and since then the prohibitory legislation
of the State has been granted by the Republican
party. Since 1851 there has been enacted thir-
ty-nine statutes in reference to intoXication
and the sale of Intoxicating liquors, besides the
resolution of the last Legislature allowing the
people to place prohibition in the Constitution
of the State, if they desire it. The adoption of
this resolution Is supposed to be a verdict by
the people upon the question of whether the
prohlbitory law has been success or a failure.
Twice before this have the people voted at the
STATE elections upon questions connected with
the Prohlbitory law. In 1858 hill was enact
ed ''for the suppression of drinking houses and
tipping shops,' which, by subsequent egis-
lative provision, only became a law by popu-
lar vote; and again, In 1867, bill was enacted
amendatory to the statute of 1888, which was
also submitted to the people for their adoption.
The vote upon the former was 2S,S64 in favor
to OPP against, and upon the latter "a, ,S9i in
favor to o536 opposed, and in each case the Gov
ernor issued his proclamation announcing that
the Legislative amendments to the PrOhibitory
law had become part Of the statute law OF the
State by the desire of the people. The Consti-
tutional amendment voted on September Sth, is
different from either of the above, as it cannot
be repealed except by popular vote, and will
prevent the repeal of the Prohibitorv law of
the State. 1t is as follows:
The manufacture of intoxicating liquors, not
including cider and the sale and keeping for sale
of intoxicating liquors, are and sha be forever
prohibited. Except, however. that the sale and
the keeping for sale of such liquors for medici-
nal and mechanical purposes and the arts, and
the sale and keeping for sale of cider may be
permitted under such regulations as the legisla-
ture may provide. The Legislature shall enact
laws with suitable penalties for the suppression
of the manufacture, sale and keeping for sale of
intoxicating liquors, with the exceptions herein
specified.
The action of the people upon the two statute
amendments mentioned above shows that the
prohibition, but nevertheless, the campaign
that has been waged in favor Of putting proh-
billon INTO the Constitution has been probably
the most thorough of any ever conducted in this
State. Both SEXES have made it their aim to
build up public sentiment in its favor, and
the vote upon it has been the largest ever
poned upon any constitutional amendment
heretofore submitted to this State. During the
past few days in all the cities and larger viii
lagos, have been put up In conspicuous places
PoNlVlS vi StlIS all dllI LldtNt vote upon the
amendment "l'or God, for Home and Native
Land,' and envelopes containing copy of the
amendment with reasons why it should be
adopted. and also an affirmative vote. have been
delivered at the residences of voters In the
cities. Besides this affirmative ballots We're dis
tributed at the polling places during the day bv
members of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union.
Ever since prohibition became a recognized
principle of the people Of Maine the opponents
OF the measure have proclaimed it to be a fail
ure, and pointed to the open bars in the cities
of the State in proof If their assertions. But
the cities ito not control the legislation of the
State or the enforcement of the law beyond
their precincts. If they did the law mi ght have
become failure long before the present time.
The balance of power in Maine is in the rural
districts, and there. as a rule, the Prohibiory
law Is successful in preventing the open sale of
intoxicating liquors. though in many of these
same towns 1t Is no doubt possible to be obtain
ed by any person desiring it. either at hotels,
apothccary stores or some other places where
It is surreptitiou>ty kept for sale. So long as
the law eXerUs restraining influence it Is not il
failure. No one has ever expected it would
totally prevent sales, and it has never been ar
gued that such should be the case except bv
those who have desired to prove its failure.
During the consideration of the Constitutional
amendment by the last Legislature. one of the
arguments urged for its passage was that the
stronger the prohibltory law had been made
and the more rigorous its enforcement, the less
our criminal records were burdened bv crimes
against chastity and morality. Since the agita-
tlon Of the amendment matter has been going
on. The Journals representative has been to
the trouble of compiling tables showing the
prosecutions in the Supreme Courts of the sew
eral counties of the State for the past twenty
years of violations of the liquor law, of assaults
and battery and feonous assaults, and crimes
against morality and chastity. Prior to 1868 it
is difficult to obtain the number of prosecutions
as no regular system of returns by County At
tornes was in vogue. Arranged by decades
these figures show that while the number Of
prosecutions for violations of the liquor law
betw cen 1874 and 1884 increased tifty-four per
cent, the number of prosecutions for offences
against chastity and morality correspondingly
decreased hfty-oue per cent. The following
table will show the moral work in this line
performed in the several counties during the
two, 4 ,Ial