Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-20
NINETY TODAY.
Now to Celebrate Neal Dow's
Birthday Anniversary.
It Will Be Known as Prohibition Day
the World Over,
And Thousands Will uMlte u Doing Honor Ia
tho Noled Reiesmsr.


worker, whose Goth birthday will be the oc-
casion, today, of very general celebration
by the advocates Of Temperance reform all
over the world, is too well known to the
people of Maine by the grand work which
he has accomplished in their midst, to need
any special introduction.
He was born in the city Of Portland, Me-,
March 20, 1904. He came of
Quaker origin, and was educated
in the schools Of his native
city and at the Friends Academy in New
Bedford, Mass, where he was trained with
view to entering into mercantile and
manufacturing pursuits. He concluded
his school days when he was Is years of
age, and was given position in his fathers
office, where he learned the business of
tanner. He early became connected with
the Portland fire department, where he
won rapid promotion, being its chief en-
gineer in 1889. In 1851 and again in 1854
he was elected mayor of the city.
He was q born reformer, and in the
years of the agitation which preceded the
Civil War. was one of the most outspoken
supporters of William Lloyd Garrison.
About this time he became known for his
vigorous expressions on the project for the
prohibition of the liquor trsffic, and through
his efforts, while mayor of Portland. the
Maine liquor law, prohibiting under severe
penalties the sale Of Intoxicating beverages,
was passed ia 1851.
An interesting story is told of an event
which urged him to greater activity in push
ing this reform.
One day . woman called to see him and
asked him to talk with q certain liquor
dealer and get him not to sell to her husband.
.sHes spending every cent he gets, there"
she said, "and we have to do the best we
can. and that's pretty poor"
Gen. Dow waited on the saloon keeper,
told the story. and asked him not to sell
any more liquor to the party in question.
II have right to sell, and will SELL" he
replied. ~ have license to sell liquor
and the law will protect me in selling to
him."
"Very we'll, said Dow, "then l must
make you stop selling not only to this man,
but to an, body else"
"How are you going to do it," asked the
saloonkeeper with laugh.
"By changing the law. We viii prohibit
you from selling liquor"
From that on Gen. Dow devoted all his
time to the agitation of the subject Of q
probibitory law.
When General Dow had drafted the bill
to which we have above referred and which
he called "a bill for the suppression of
drinking houses and tppling- shops" he
submitted it to the prominent temperance
leaders Of his city, who without exception
objected to its radical character, ~ almoet
certain to insure it, defeat. Nothing
daurted, however. by discouraging predic-
tions, he went before the Legislature, the a
in session at Augusta, and had q public |
hearing in the hall Of the House of Repre- |
sentatives which was filed with
members Of the Legislature and
citizens of Augusta and vicinity, and at
the close of the meeting, his bill was unan-
imously adopted by the committee. 1t was
enacted without any change, whatever, in
the original draft. MIR. Dow was . MEM
Der of the Legislature in 1859.
On December 81, 1861, he was appointed
colonel Of the 18th Maine Volunteers, and
with his regiment was attached to General
Buffers command on an expedition to New |
Orleans. He was commissioned brigadier- |
general Of volunteers, April %, 1862, and !
placed in command Of the forts
ct the mouth of the Mississippi |
and district Of Florida. He was
twice wounded in an attack upon Port
Hudson, May ~. 1868. Hewas prisoner
for over eight months ia Libby Prison and |
at Mobile. He resigned fem the service
November 80, 1864.
In 1857, and again 10 1866 and 1874,
Mr.. Dow went 70 England At the invita-
tion Of the United Kingdom Temperance
Alliance, and addressed crowded meetings