The Republican journal., 1885-05-07


A SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE FROM THE PORTLAND
ARGUS AND THE COMMENTS IT HAS PRO-
VOKED.
LET THE TEST BE MADE.
The article published in the Belfast Age, and
copied by the Portland Press and the Bangor
Commercial, is a practical censure upon Mayor
Deering and Marshal Andrews for enforcing
law of the State. If these three papers are
opposed to the prohibitory law, and their ut
terances show that they are opposed to it, WHY
do they not unite in an effort TO secure the re-
peal of said law, instead of try ing to make
more difficult the task of the Mayor and the
city marshal of Portland o enforce this law?
The Belfast Age is mistaken If it thinks the
prohibtory law is being enforced in Portland
simply to gain votes from the prohibition-ts.
Mayor Deering was elected over Mr.. Fogg. the
rum candidate put in nomination by the leaders
OF the Republican party 10 this city. In a word
majority of the voters of Portland declared at
the polls their preference for man W HON they
knew would enforce the prohibitory law Nav
or Deering's first official act was to appoint az
city marshal Ben amin f. Andrews, Who had
been turned out of office by Republican may
or and five aldermen because he had been try
ing to enforce the prohibitory law.
Vigorous efforts to enforce the law against
the sale Of intoxicating liquors have now been
gong on Iess than a month and already the
number of arrests for drunkenness, as well as
for other crimes, has decreased 60 per cent as
shown in an article in another column. In
several instances that have come under the
personal observation of our reporters, the fam
lilies of poor men have begun to feel the effects
OF the closing of the rum shops by an increase
In home supplies, bought with the money that
was before spent for beer. Not day passes
without a number Of women calling at the city
marshaFs office to tell him how many more
comforts their husbands are supplying them
and their children since the beer shops were
closed with Dutch locks.
Finally the Democratic party of Portland, as
whole, are in full sympathy with Mayor
Deering and Marshal Andrews in their efforts
to enforce the statute law which ha. been mor-
ally strengthened by being Incorporated into
the constitution of the State. This being so
why should the Belfast Age find fault with the
actioa Of our Mayor and our City Marshal?
Portland Argus.
WHAT THE PRESS SAYS.
The quarrel among the Democratic organs
over the wisdom OF enforcing the prohbitory
law is purely family affair and the Press has
no intention of taking part in it. A. a matter
of news, however, it will report from time to
time the progress of the fight. Yesterday the
Argus rebuked its esteemed Democratic con-
temporary, the Belfast Age, for asper~ny
Mayor Deering and the vindicated marshal by
lnsinuatlng that they are enforcing the law
simply to gain votes, and managed to keep its
face toleraby straight during the performance
On Saturday the Argus's esteemed Democratic
contemporary the Bangor Commerca refer
ring to rumsellmg declared that mo legislation
can make that crime which the common
sense of mankind knows is not such" and con
cluded, therefore, that the ''prohbtorv law
must 60" The Argus apparently overlooked
this paragraph or it would have made it the
subject OF a stingng rrbuke. We give the
Commercial due warning that Argus rebukes
m