Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-10-06

Neal Dow was born in Portland. Me-,
March 20, 1904. His parents were Quak-
ers, and sent him to the Friends acad-
envy al New Bedford. Mass. where he
received his education. After receiving
his education he pursued a mercantile
and manufacturing career for a number
of years. He was active in the affairs of
his native city, and in 1889 became chief
of the fire department, was elected mayor
of the city in 1851 and was reelected in
1854
He was early opposed to the liquor
traffic and became the champion of the
project, which was first brought forward
in the Maine Legislature in 1889 by
James Appleton. While serving his first
term as mayor. he drafted a bill for the
prohibition of the sale of liquor through
out the state, and though its radical
character threatened defeat he carried
it successfully through the Legislature,
and IT continues to be law to the pres
ent time.
His bill was called "a bill for the
suppression of drinking houses and tip
ping shops" and provides for search of
suspected places, for the seizure, con-
domination and confscation of such liquor
found and for the punishment Of persons
tratficking in it.
His friends endeavored to dissuade him
from the purpose, but he went himself to
the Legislature and secured a hearing in
the hall of representatives before an inn
mense crowd of the citizens of the town
web as the legislators, and it was so
highly approved that the committee
unanimously accepted it.
1t was printed that same night and
distributed among the members the next
morning, which was the last day of the
session. 1t passed without altera ton,
In 1858 Mr.. Dow was elected a mem
Der Of the Legislature. At the outbreak
of hn JI-sar no tod .-f
the Thirteenth Regiment volunteers and
accompanied Gen. Buffers expedition to
New Orleans. In 1862 he was commits
stoned brigadierg general and assigned to
the command of the forts at the mouth
Of the Mississippi river Later he was
At the battle of Fort Hudson he was
twice wounded. He was taken prisoner
and confined IN Libby prison and at Mo-
bile for nearly a year; he was exchanged.
lie was so much broken in health
through his captivity that he resigned in
1864.
He made three trips to England at the
special invitation of the Temperance al
lance Of the United Kingdom and was
warmly received in all the large cities.
where he addressed immense audiences.
Throughout his life Gen Dow labored
indefatigably to pOpularize the movement
III behalf of prOhibitOry legislation in all
parts of the United States by public
speeches and constant contributions TO
the press.
He was the candidate of the National
Prohibition party for President of the
United States in 1880, but received only
about 10000 votes. 1t was largely
through his instrumentality that in 1884
an amendment to the constitution was
made. and was adopted by an overwhelm-
ing vote, which forever forbade the man
ufacture, sale and keeping for sale of any
Intoxicating beverage, and commanding
the Legislature to enforce the prohibi-
tiGr.
On his ninetieth birthday he attended
national convention of temperance held
i'll his honor in New York city, at which
he made an address in his old-time forci-
bic and impressive manner.