The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-22
NOW IT IS WORKING IN THE
STATE OF MAINE.
An Investigation by the Editor
of the Intelligencer
conyiuces Him that the HalfHas
Never Been Told
Regarding the Manner in Which
the Law is Violated.
The Personal Observations of a
Newspaper Man.

poE1LASp, Me-, May 2l.-Ihe aglta-
linn in West Virginia, over a proposed
n,obibitory amendment in that State,
E,. led several persons to write TO prom
;nort temperance men in Maine asking
n, an exact statement as to the practi-
r,l working Of the liquor law here.
A great many replies have been sent
detailing the excellent effect of the con-
aitutional amendment, telling in glow
irgterms how rum has at last been ban
j.beJ from the pioneer prohibition
State, and saying that not glass oil
Iiouor is now to be had for love or
money.
The letters were read in public at sew
Drl temperance meetings in West vir-
g;%ia I'M and had marked effect until
New York paper reached there. some
rocks aco. with an accurate and circum-
o,onI;ni account OF the discoveries OF q
o"rrrsnondeut who was sent through
Wa;nr to find out exactly how the
Honor law works. This astonishing
rSvclation of open bars, free rum and
nnrestricted liquor traffic induced
Charles Burdett Hart, editor oil the
Wheeling INTELLIGEScER to come 10
Maine on tour OF investigation Tor
himself.
ASTOUNDING DEVELOPMENTS.
Mr.. Hart arrived here with the belief
that the paper must be mistaken, but
before he had been in town twenty-four
hours he concluded that the correspond;
ent had made truthful and unbiased
rcnort. Mrs. Hart, who accompanied
Lcr husband, was enthusiastic in her
sunnort OF the prOhibitOry law, basing
Lcr belief on the letters she had read.
ar and Mn. Hart reached here on Sat
uriay night and remained over Sunday
nj n iirst.class hotel. At dinner, to their
nroiound establishment, guest seated
Gnnosite them ordered bottle OF wine,
and the waiter, in a matter-oi'lact way
drew the cork and filled the glass. =,
Still thinking that an exception to the
Inv had been witnessed, Editor Hart
sta, tied out the next morning for n stroll
oho,,t town. In two hours he returned
and told his wife that he had visited over
fortv saloons where liquor was sold
onenly by the glass. Thoroughly sur
nrisei at what had been discovered the
West virginia editor determined to
probe the matter to the bottom and took
his departure with his wife for Augusta
SESE BARS IN FOUR HUNDRED YARDS.
The fint thing A1r. Hart did on arriv-
ing in Augusta was to go to the State Ii
brary, in the Capitol, with the expecta-
ton that it was well stocked with
prohibition literature. To his further
astonishment u search from floor to cell
ing failed to unearth single volume
treating Of prohibition or dealing with
the forbidden traffic in any way. In a
tour about town he found, without much
difficulty, some practical illustrations OF
the workings OF the prohibitory law.
He had been informed that there were
several places in Augusta where it was
possible for the weary traveller TO slake
his Thirst, and large number OF saloons
were visited and liquor purchased in
nearly every one. At one part OF Water
street, in walk OF about four hundred
wards, he found nine bars where liquor
was sold, and purchased liquor himself,
or saw it bought, at every one OF them.
CITIZEN AMAZED.
lie visited twenty shops where liquor
was sold openly during the two days he
was in Augusta, and aScertained that up.
ward Of thirty special licenses had been
taken out By Augusta dealers. But this
was not all. He called upon one OF the
leading citizens, u pronounced temper
ancc man, and asked him il he were
aware Of the extent of liquor traffic In
the city and that rum was being sold
openly in the street. The Augusta gen.
tleman prOfcssed amaZemcnt and said
the authorities would not allowit. The
West Virginian, in his turn, was sur
prised, and informed the citizen what he
had seen with his own eyes.
THE CLIMAX CAPPED.
Editor Hart continued his travels to
Bangor, where the condition OF affairs
was even worse than in Portland and
Augusta. The hotel he stopped at was
equipped with first-class bar.room, and
guests had only to press an electric but:
ton and the bell boy promptly served
the best brands OF liquors and wines
which money could buy. Here again
formidable array OF rum shops was dis
covered and liquor flowed freely on
every hand.
Mr.. Hart also visited other cities in
the State, and in nearly all found the
same condition OF affairs as in the 9TH
cH. He leaves the State with no very
hattering opinion OF the efficacy Of pro-
hibitOry amendments, and is at loss to
account for such condition OF affairs in