The Portland daily press., 1892-07-09
WENT FOR THE AGENCY.
John M. Todd and Others Discuss the
Present State of Affairs.

| Present State of Affairs.
AT the usual Friday evening temper
ance meeting at Gospel Hall last night
there was fair attendance to listen to
remarks by MI. John NJ. Todd in regard
to the recent seizure of punch by the
sheritfs. After reading of the scriptures
and an earnest prayer, Rev. S. f. Pearson
said that the subject was one of univer-
sal comment and that Mr.. Todd was per
fectly able to discuss the question to the
audiences satisfaction. He added that
he was glad the seizure had been made,
| and for the reason that while in Europe
he made 104 speeches and people contin-
ually said to him that they had obtained
liquor in Maine. 'But now, thank God,
the Canadian drummers will have to go
back to Canada and say that prohibition
does prohibit
Mr.. Todd then took the platform and
paid his respects to the city liquor agency
with great vividness.
1t was expected, he said, that this adj
ministration was going to close the agen-
cy. On the first four Saturdays after the
7th of May $1,000 worth of liquor was sold
there in those four days. What antici-
patton of sickness on Sunday! Four hun
| dred dollars day for four days for the
sick people of Portland, and yet we were
going to close up that agency if we got
into power.''
There ought to be indignation meet
ings in this city to protest against it,
There never was such rum shop in Port
land as that agency. Do you suppose
those agents didn't know that it was a
violation of law to give that liquor for
the Canadian drummers?
Voice from the audience-sI should
like to ask Brother Todd if he was LIQUOR
agent and an order came to supply liquor
for municipal purposes wouldn't he let
him have it?'
Mr.. Todd-Shouldn't give any liquor
without there was physicians written
order for it. (Applause.)
Voice from the crowd-In regard to
statistics of sale of liquor on the four
Saturdays, did you think to compare
them with the same days of the previous
year?
MI. Todd-They were supposed to be
larger, but it makes no difference wheth-
er they were or not.
why wasn't this talk made before"
Because the time is ripe for it. This
recent event has brought matters to a
crisis"
is there any reason to believe that
since Mr.. Ingraham was mayor more
liquor has been sold than in the previous
year?"
Mr.. Todd don't know. 1t makes
no difference. And another thing, the
record of daily sales ought to be kept in
ink. If they are honorable men they
ought not to show the light and
ought to keep the records in ink, not
with a lead pencil. People call me a
communist. But this agency is COM
mune rum-shop. Why shouldn't other
things be sold to the people at cost? Is
rum SO important? If l can get rum
(that I don't want) at cost, why can't 1
get COAL water, food, (that do want) at
cost? [ thank you for listening to my
talk, hope it will start discussion by
ADLER men.
We've got to face the demon of in
toxication in this section or we are go
ing to ruin.
Mr.. Pearson
then rose and said the fact that $64, 900
worth of liquor was sold in the agency in
ten months ian amount that equals 81. "a
for every man, woman and child in this
city, is ridiculous. 1t doesn't make any
difference what party is in power Pm
responsible for that agency being open
tonight; we're all responsible That is
open by vote of the people 30 years ago.
If the people would take action they
could close it. In response to my ques-
tions,Ea leading physician of this city
said: After a practice of % years in
this city [ am convinced that 10 gallons
of alcohol will supply every medicinal
purpose in the city of Portland for II
months. Still another leading doctor
thought that so gallons of liquor would
do it. And yet 100000 worth was sold
at the agency the past year. Leading
practitioners at the bar say that the
rumsellers swear that they get their sup
plies from the agency. 1t is as Brother
Todd says about the rum traffic; in the
next decade, unless this is throttled, it
will throttle the American people. Now,
what's the boast in this city tonight?
wen cut Grants head off, The peo-
pie in the county will put it on. I've got
enough love for Leander Cram to leave
my home some months to work for him,
and I'm not Republican. I'm third
party prohibitionist, but I'll support an
honest man.