Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-27
nd .c,;velv ;d,n,;t,ed With the enforcement

and actively identified with the enforcement
of the law during the year of Mayor Deering
and the five months administration OF the
present republican Mayor Chapman and
Marshal Hawkes., and stand here to say and
| to prove from nv own observation and from
official figures that the prohibitory law in
| Portland mas been more effective during the
past five months than in the corresponding
Eve months of last year, Notwithstanding last
year the Law and Order League gave special
assistance to the city officers
The official figures show that from April,
1885, to August, 1885, under the Deering ad-
ministration, 20 barrels. 210 half barrels, l2S
kegs, 35 jugs, 3,0Ol bottles of liquor were
seized.
In the corresponding period OF 1856, under
the Chapman administration, l59 barrels, 500
half barrels, SO kegs. &c jugs, 6,4l7 bottles OF
liquor were seized.
FROM May l, 1885, to Sept. l, 1885. under
the Deering administration, the number OF
search and seizure cases before the court were
60; number of liquor nuisances, s.
| In the corresponding period of 1886, under
Mayor Chapman, the number of search and
seizure cases befor the court were 64; num-
Der of liquor nuisances, II.
| For the whole municipal year of 1850, the
Deering administration of 1885 paid into the
city treasury as the receipts from the sale OF
empty liquor vessels from which seized
| liquors had been poured, the sum OF Sl.l50.-
| SO.
But under the present republican adminis-
| tration already, in five months only, the sum
of Sl,252 II has been paid in. 1t will be
| seen by these official comparisons that even
compared with the only democratic admins
tration in Portland that ever attempted to en-
force the liquor law-the admiration of our
third party friends-the present republican
| administration, which it is charged is In
league with the rum power, has done far
more effective work.
Is it not evident from this that our third
party friends are assaulting republican OIL
| Gals for quite another purpose than for the
advancement of the cause of temperance!
The charge that republican attorneys and
judges in Cumberland county do not admins
ter the law against dram shops as rigidly as
the laws against other offences. is disprOved
by the official record sf the court. At the last
term of the Superior Court of Cumberland
county, there were SOP liquor cases, 90 OF
which were mol pressed for want of evidence,
defective complaints, failures of juries to
agree, and flight of accused from the State.
At the same terms OF the courtthere were III
cases of other offences, of which IL were mol
pressed. 1t will be seen that in both classes
of cases the number mol pressed was exactly
10 per cent.-showing that the law was
equally administered in both classes of Of
feuces.
These facts show that there is no good
ground for the charges so freely made against
the republican party, and no sufficient reason
for organizing third prohibitory party.
1t is true that it is the duty of temperance
men to use their votes to secure the
election of faithful officials to such positions
as have to do with the enforcement of the
law, and true friends of prohibition to places
that have to deal with temperance, State or
national. But the prohbitory party, which
nominates an opposing candidate when true
temperance men are alreedy IN nomination,
which dominates independent candidates
when one contest is between two candidates
already in the field-the one in favor of pro-
hibition and the other opposed ,-practically
defeats the very ends it processes to have in
view.
With prohibiiory laws on the statute book
the enforcement of these laws can be best
secured by temperance effort through the
leading parties. and by improving public SEN
timent. The friends Of temperance should
call to mind their splendid victory two years
ago, when, bv lifting their cause above par
ties and appealing to right minded men of all
parties they won so splendid victory.