The Portland daily press., 1884-09-19
Congressman Reed.

(MGalson, lnd., Cour1ero
The Democratic opposition to Hon. Thomas
B. Reed, of the First Maine District, in Mon
days election, has met with defeat, notwith-
standing the fact that large sums Of money
have been spent to effect his overthrow. The
people of Maine have too much good sense to
deprive their State of the honor of having the
ablest debater in the House Of Representatives.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Reed AZ
member of the Potter Committee subjected
the great cipherer to searching examination
as to his part in the fraud of 1876. Ever since
that time 1t has seemed to be the particular
ambition of Tilden to defeat the re-eleotion
OF Mr.. Reed, and to that end all the cunning
and energy OF which he is capable has been
brought into action at each succeeding cleo
ton. This year it seems that large sums Of
money were spent on his district, and &C one
time it seemed as il their efforts would be
successful, but the good sense OF the people Of
Maine, strengthened as it has been by adVer-
stiles, finally prevailed, and Reed Is reelected
BY substantial majority. We tender him
our congratulations on his triumph over the
world, the flesh and Ssm Tilden.
Herald and Times, Gouveneur, N.Y0
The fact that Thomas B. Reed, of the PORT
land, Me-, district, was triumphantly reelected
in spite of bitter factional opposition, is most
charming news to all those Republicans who
kH0uu dUliIy anu D0il0Vo IN puLLiuK
none but the ablest and purest men In posts Of
highest homer to guard the public interests
and forward the always progressive policy Of
the great party of political and governmental
reform. Thus will the State that furnishes
the next President of the United States also
have the honor of sending to the next Com
gress man who has no superior in eithss
branch OF the national legislature. Well dons
for Maine
Newport News)
D. -
the man most likely to be Speaker of the next
Congress. provided, of course, that the Repub-
hoans secure majority of the members He
is man emineEtly fitted by his parliamentary
experience for the position. He would make
the best leader on the floor and might be OF
more value out of the chair.
The Enforcement of the Liquor Law.
To the Editor Of the Press
In communication to the PRESS, which you
were so kind as to publish and comment upon
in Mondays issue, it has been claimed that I
misrepresented the attitude of DR.. Warren In
the use Of the phrase, fatally defective" a
applied to The prohibitory law. So far from
his having taken such position, he claims that
he has recently published series of articles
calculated to show that the law Ia as effectiya
as other laws, and that in the main prohibi-
tion has been a grand success, even in this
city. I, of course, did not intend to do him in
justice, and make haste to acknowledge an
error, very naturally fallen into, by his claim
that owing to defects in the law, officers find it
difficult to close up certain places which pa
rade bottles filed with colored liquids, etc.,
and which have every appearance Of being
liquor saloons. As 1 distinctly stated in my
former communication, am favorable to any
amendments which may be needed to render
the law more effective, and IS by an over.
whelming majority the people have just writ.
ten in the fundamental law Of the State, tho
declaration that "the Legislature shall pass
such laws as are necessary" TO give force to the
prohibitory clause of the Constitution, there
can be no doubt that in future our Lawmakers
will calmly consult together, uDtrammeled by
party preiudices, and correct any defect which
may be found to exist in the law, whenever
such defect can be made apparent.
But, as before jntimated, Just now every
friend OF prohibition should insist upon Wig
orous and impartial enforcement Of existing
statutes. That there are a large number OF
grog-shops in Portland at the present time IL
easy of demonstration; shops, perhaps not
"oDen" in the technical sense mads use Of in
recent discussions, but premises leased and oc-
cupied for no other purpose than the sals Of
liquors; open" to such an extent that the
passer-by may, without undue Inconsistencies,
glance in and discover men standing before the
counter "tipping their glasses" surrounded by
all the appurtenances Of the grog-shop, aud
''open" to such an extent that thirsty man In
search of a draHght from the "oup which ine-
Driates," would readily be attracted within the
"open" door, and through second door, also
"open" to the inner apartments, where he may
find just what he is searching for.
Have we law enough to reach these unhlush-
ing violstors? Some think so. Others ara
satisfied that the law is 50 defective that theV
cannot be reached. A lawyer, of large exDe.
rience recently said in my hearing, 81 would be
glad to take the contract to close every open
rumshop in Portland, with your present law,
within months timel" The money may
easily be raised to employ him; what better i'm
vestment can the friends of enforced proaibi-
ton make Just now than to retain this or some
other competent legal adviser, and engage in .
vigorous, practical effort, to secure an honest
enforcement of the liquor law in Portland.
For one, am ready with voluntary con-
tribution. After this experiment has been
thoroughly tested, 1 am quite certrin the peo-
pie will be in better mood to discuss any pro-
posed amendments to the liquor law, aud GER
tainly would better understand Just what
amendments are necessary. HAS,