Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-01
GODS .,illa
M ~ 1\H - Is the Best Blood
III ~H0~u Purifier Appetizer and
0AA y Nerve Tonic. 1t
That Tired Feeling

Almighty. then indeed is the man sacri-
l-ginus who ventures to criticise it. But
if it is the work of men, then anyone
should have the privilege of discussing it
without imperillIng his standing i'll the
community. In these times the Bible is
subjected to what is called the higher
criticism. and il will come from that
criticism not weakened but strengthened.
Truth defies criticism. A just cause chal-
I lengss investigation. Then why is it that
this prohibitory law, which is only the
work OF men. must not be criticised, can
not be discussed? The atmosphere Of
pious terrorism with which this law is
surrounded has become one of the potent
weaknt sses of that law; it has cast its
baleful influence over all political life in
| Maine \ politician dares not say in pub
! lie what he really believes of this law and
its provisions. 1t is all a matter Of policy.
/ have criticized the law and have asked
| for its enforcement Politicians have at
| tempted to make partisan question of
| this 1t has been said that | am not
| good Republican because | oppose the
! prohibitory law. This is not Il partisan
question 1t does not require profound
argument to prove that prohibition is not
cardinal doctrine of the Republican
party, nationally. Both parties have been
called hypocritical on this question, iii
the past Even my friend from Van Buren,
| (Mr Keegan1 has had too much experience
to stand up and vote as he talks, but will
not criticise him for that
Has the more than 40 years in which
this law has been on the statute books
proven that it is success? l think not,
The first prohibitory law was passed III
1851, and ever since then the law has
been the foot ball of politics. | believe
that this law has no more place in the
fabric of the constitution than law to
prevent the catching of nine-inch Holsters,
and | know that / am upheld in that view
| by some of the ablest advocates of prohl-
bition as Il principle ! am happy to be
informed that our Speaker voted against
incorporating it into the constitution.
The popular vote on the question was TO-
900 in favor of the amendment and 49,
600 against Forty-siX thousand voters
who voted for Governor did not expires
their convictions on the amendment, more
than the majority by which it was carried.
What is the result of all these 40 years
of prohibitory law? Is prohibition prohi-
biting today: Prohibitionists always dis
cuIss this matter as though it was ii qnes-
ton of temperance. They tell you of the
horrors of drinking, they tell you of the
terrible examples of the evil OF drinking
but why is it that you do not have to
go outside of the State lines for those
horrible examples? Why is it that your
inebriate asylums are over. crowded? Why
is it that crime ctused by rum is increas-
ing? Why is it that Kelley cures are
scattered over the fair face of our State
like hospitals in hell: Why is it that they
have introduced bill this morning pro
viding for the cure of alcoholism in our
iails? And yet you ask me if prohibition
prohibits. These are facts, and does the
crime consist in their existence or in the
mention of them
I have known the condition of affairs
in Bath for good many years, and L
don t want anyone to tell me that liquor
is not sold in Bath and sold freely there.
But | wanted moro thorough and com
prehensive investigation made than was
ever made before. ! went to Boston and
saw Mr.. John Ames of the Herald and in
terested him in the matter, as good news
paper enterprise. Together we chose our
man, f.. A. Perry, a thoroughly compe-
tent newspaper man and gentleman.
He had served for many years as the
foreign correspondent of the Herald. Mr.
! Perry came to Maine and went round
! thoroughly investigated impartially and
| faithfully, and made his report | wish
/ to vouch for the statements of Mr. Perry
| He was in Maine from November II to
! December 12 1894. He visited - out Ct
! the rs counties of the State and IS cut of
the 20 cities. He found one thing every
/ where the same--plcnty of liquor. In
! Bangor everything was wide open. In
| Portland little more secrecy was
observed. The Lewiston novelty was rum
/ in barber shops; but everywhere he found
| it the same as to the abundance of liquor
! There are 40 United States licenses issued
/ to residents of2ny town, of less than 5000
( inhabitants Is the condition Of things
/ in Bath exceptional?
/ The United States licenses issued in
Maine during the last eight months are
as follows:
/ Bangor, 155; Portland, 1872 Lewiston,
/ 10; Bath, 40; Biddoford, A; Augusta
/ 81; Rockland, %; Bar Harbor, -; Water
vile, 81; Gardiner, 20; Houlton, 70; East
port, IS; Old Orchard IS; Orono. Is; Old
/ Town, Ii; Skowhegan, II; Calais, Bel
/ fast and Fairfield, 10 cach brunswick,
! o. IdllONtb, 1diIAiCiis Itf7Httt loat anu
! Damariscott,.. 6 each; Grcenvillc Thomas
ton Brewer, Saco, Rumford Fails Booth
/ bay Harbor, Deoring aud Sanford, each;
| Springvale, Wiscasset, Sullivan, Farming
ton, Vinal Haven and Bucksport, 4 each
Hartland, Mattawamke, VIM, Bling
ham, Westbrook, Pittsfcld, Fort Fairfield,
Randolph, Dexter, Frceport, Ashland, Dan
forth, Cape Elizabeth, and Fgcnchville, 3
each; Benedicta, SANDY Bay, Fort Kent,
Hampden, Madison, Warren, Castinc,
! Cherryfeld Oakland, Jackmap, Phillips,
Chelsea, Norway, sherman, TIE Forks,
Eagle Lake, Waldoboro, Rangcley Brook
ton and Yarmouth ? each.
! More than 20 of the towns that have
licensed places have a population of less
than 500, four of them have q population
of less than 100, while one of them has
population of four. 1t all amounts to
| this, that we have one licensed liquor
dealer to every 700 persons in the State of
Maine Over 900 licenses. Did you ever
/ l.; L ~.