Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-07-17
NOT WITHOUT A HOTEL.
asp'y to tae Article on Norridgcwoeks ren.
perance Situation.

The following communication has been
received from one Of the prominent busi-
ness men and a leading temperance man
If NorridGewock. in reply to a special ar
.icle from that town in the Journals is
sue of July To- This article was an nm
biased report Of the temperance situation
of the town gained from parties on both
sides of the question but The Journal is
Siad to present the views of the csti-
mable temperance man.
Inc following is the communication:
Editors kenncbec Journal:
An article in the Journal of July II in
relation 10 the liquor seizure at The Nor
ridrcwock hotel, July 3, gives the public
70 understand that the sentiment in IA
Vor oi temperance in that quiet old town
az low cbb, ana that those who are
,ondcmning the action of tht. four citi-
Zens named. are in the majority in the
ratio of fifty to one.
we 10 not propose to ccnSure the writ
er OF the article. as he must have been
mislnformed in regard to some of tn.
more important facts, and ne cannot Dc
tcpualnted with The people Of Norrldge-
Wock. II Is true that outside capital built
me fine hotel that now stands on the
site Of the old Sawyer house: but the
parties who invested their money. re
luired liberal donation from the citizens
# Norridgcwock. before they would
me several parties, as shown IN the trans
action. is sufficient evidence that none
but the kindliest business relations ex-
ST. Mr.. Cahill 50 FAR as W, know has
proved himself m efficient landlord. and
the travelling public has pcen well pleased
with his treatment We wish the state
ment that he had paid his fines ala not
ippear in tho article. The facts are. that
there are already two indictmcnts stand
hS on the docket against him. ON one
he has paid the cost and on the other
g., martial hug hr. 10 nj b.,
has been 'let of" 10y the officials upon
his promise to stop selling to the towns
people. The amount OF hard liquors
seized. and other evidence equally
strong. shows that the citizens made no
mistake in suspectins that the traffic was
being continued.
II Is true that some ''indiGnties have
been heaped upon certain citizens. but the
impression that their friends are few in
number is another mistake. Instead of
the petitions referred to containing HN
names, it contained less than 80. and
some who signed IL are free to state that
they would not do it again knowing the
facts AS they now exist. We are not
aware that single church member IS eX-
tending aid in any way 70 the opposition.
and the persons fayorinG the non-en-
torCcment Of the law, Gf we read the ar
tiCle aright) are the very ones whom the
temperance element expected to oppose
them. Is it possible that unless rum is
sold. the town is in a dying condition? Il
refer to the item.b
Anyone acquainted with the business of
the town will admit that until within d
few years tabout nveD Norridgewock has
been busy little village. and the cor
respondent claims that 1t was compare
lively dry" up TO that time.
Personally. we do not believe that the
sale of liquor greatly enhances the bus!-
ness interests of the town. We believe
that money paid for that which neither
affords food. shelter nor clothing. is who'll
~ squandered and not only TINS but II
unfits the laborcr to earn much as h"
otherwise would. If it is true that
this condition of things has been
arrived at in the short space oi
five years whittier are We drifting
temperance people were strongly. united,
and that every effort he put forth To ar
rest this spreading evil. In referring /"
"in,lignitics'' we sincerely wish the cor
respondent had omitted that clause from
the article. as the Journal has a wide CIR
culation and the many prominent men
and women who have gone out from
Norridgcwock Will read with regret that
their native town contains an element
that will impose upon respectable citizens
in the manner referred to. We can as
sure the readers Of the Journal, however
that this act Is strongly condemned, ana
many who claimed neutrality IN Use inat-
ter are outspoken in heaping censure up
on the parties who committed the act
The citizens are working hard TO increase
the legitimate business of the town ana
promises to be in the near future. put
with the impression given by the artcl"
Of July TO- we fear that the class OF new
comcrs whom we most desire, Will bc
slow to locate in Norrldgcwock. we are
not .without a hotel" The QuinnebaS,
set Inn has been open several months ana
the public can rest assured that the taole
and attention, SO much desired by guests,
is second to none. ,,,Drn,c
ca Nnrri1ceWOck july Is. 1879.