Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-10
WANTED: The New
a &c to inform an anx-
ious public what has be-
come of City Auditor
Turner, and his figures.
ProcIaimins Temperance and Dispensing
Rum


IT anyone supposed for an instant that
the Democrats closed the city rum shop
two days before election because they re-
GREETED the wholesale drunkenness they had
inaugurated in this city, that person is to be
pitied for his gullibility.
He might with just as much reason sup
pose that the city rum shop was established
to promote temperance.
The city rum shop was closed because the
fathers of it were in panic owing to the
fact that their nefarious methods had been
exposed.
The epidemic of drunkenness was known
of all men.
Is anyone so simple minded as to sup
pose that those who had supplied gang of
voters with cheap rum for two weeks would
lose their control of those fellows three
days before election? If SO that person is
an object for sympathy.
The closing of the city rum shop was
locking the stable after the horse is stolen.
1t was an admission of the exposure of it.
While the Democrats would hoodwink
the sels-respecting people of this city by
closing the front door of the agency they
were evidently prepared to queach tie thirst
Of their cietims.
1t seems that kegs of rum have been
taken into every ward, and while there
was little less drunkenness
seen on Water street last even
ing, it had simply been transferred to the
neighborhoods and nearer the homes of the
victims.
We were told last evening BY parties
whose statements We do not doubt that 20
gallon keg of rum was opened up in Ward
3 last evening and invitations were extended
far and wide to come and drink. 1t
was hoped by this means to lessen
the attendance on the meeting in
Grand Army hall, it is said. The
rousing meeting that was held proved that
their attempts were Intellectual. A member
of the present city government stood at the
foot of the stairs leading to the hall and
persuaded some who came to 60 away.
While we do not understand the French
language, we were told by those who do
that he got them to go away by telling them
they could get free rum by going to a
certain place. One of the speakers at the
meeting stated that he had been threatened
and tol if he went to the meeting he'd be
''slugged.'
| While the present methods are being used
every attempt is being made to divert atten-
ton from them. One of these attempts is
being made in Ward in connection with
the workingmen who have been holding
meetings nearly every evening for several
days. Men have attended those meetings
,oho had no business there, but whose bust
ness was apparently to create distur.
| baRce.
A sad thing occurred Thursday afternoon
which shows the effect of the past two
weeks debauchery in this city.
Young fellows of IS and 10 years have
fir, quently been noticed drunk on the
streets, but Thursday afternoon two Of the
students at the high school found little
fellow about l l years of age dead drunk in
the gymnasium. They logged him to the
police station.
A gentleman who saw the boy at the sta
ton and came to the JorRNAL office said
he noticed on his way from the station to
our office, six men staggering drunk.
What do the people of Augusta think of
this condition of affairs?