The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-10-28
LIFE OF GEN. NEAL DOW
HE LED MAINE INTO
PROHIBITION.
The Beginning Of His Career as a
Prohib1tionist.
HIS LIFE THREATENED AT
WELDON.
Richmond Times.

Neal Dow was the originator OF the
Maine law, and the pioneer prohlbl-
zionist IN this country. He lived in a
large, spacious, old-time brick house
in the very heart of Portland, surround
ed by q large, well-kept lawn. He built
this house 62 years ago. From the
front windows, across the street, you
look over to the house of his son, Col
onel Fred N. Dow, the house IN which
he was born.
Here in this pleasant home, the old
Temperance hero passed to the distant
home, "where all is made right that so
puzzles us here" A leonine face,
crowned with profusion OF snowy
white hair, warm grasp of the hand,
and you are.welcome to his house, even
now in his last sickness, provided you
leave your cigar behind you.
In this dying hour he illustrated the
philosophy that carried him through
life, and made him the central figure
of remarkable reform.
General Dow came of good old stock,
being descendant OF his fathers side
in the seventh generation, from Henry
Dow, who came to this country from
Norfolk, England, In 1857, and on his
mothers side from Christopher Hall,
who came from England in 1915. His
extensive reading and talking with
men everywhere refined and polished
his style, and gave him command OF
English quite unusual either upon or
off the platform. His pronunciation
was clear and distinct.
He was a successful business man,
dealing in real estate, was tanner be-
fore the war, and has been connected
with many business enterprises. AT
the age of Is he met with misfortune
that would have crushed most men.
Rev. D. B. Peck got himself elected
treasurer of the State, and then began
to play with the cash and finally de-
4aulsed to the extent of 100000. Gen
eral Dow, who was on Peck's bond, had
to make up the amount. Next Cash
Ter Gould, favorite, followed in Peck s
footsteps with $4,000, which the Gen
eral had to make up. He honorably
stood up under these losses.
A Wing, while that party lasted, he
helped to organize the Republican par
ty and was elected mayor of Portland
He has twice represented the city IN
the State Legislature. Much discus
sion has ensued as to the origin of the
Maine law. General James Appleton
as far back as 1882, urged the restrict
ion of the traffic of intoxicating drinks
and in 1886 he made report covering
the whole subject. But the TACT re-
mains that until Neal Dow framed the
Maine law, there was no similar enact
ment on the statute books of any ma
.tion or State.
Only few weeks ago, then feeble
from infirmity and age, he described to
a newspaper man, while sitting COM
fortably in his new library, his 'den, -
as he called it, the origin OF this re-
markable law.
at was good many years ago, and I
was sitting in this same house quite
late one evening. In answering a
knock at the door found lady whom
/ knew very we'll as the wife of gov
ernment official In this city. He was
periodical drunkard, and on this very
night was down town on a spree. His
wife wished me to get him home quiet
ly because if he was drunk next dav he
might lose his position. I started out
and found him in the back room OF
one of the down town saloons. 1 said
to the keeper in quiet way 81 wish
you would sell no more liquor to Mr..
Blank why Mr.. Dow he said, this
Is my business, must supply my Gus
TONER'S That all may be- I replied
but here is this gentleman with a
large family depending upon him for
support. If he goes to his office to.
morrow drunk, he will lose his place. ]
wish you would sell him no more He
became somewhat angry, and told me
that he, too, bad a family to supper,
and said that he had a license to sell
liquor to whemsoever he pleased. Sc
you have a license, have you? and YOU
support your family by destroying tina,
mans? Wen see about this wen,
home thoroughly determined to devote
my life to suppresslng the liquor traffic
in the best way possible. The Maine
law originated in that rum shop"
In 1916 the Legislature of the Stat.
enacted law, but it did. not carry with
it the means of enforcement. Still un
discouraged, Neal Dow reused tn.
forces OF temperance, and together il
= 1850 they went before the people will
their proposition of total prohibition
The election showed the defeat Of near
=