Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-28
THE LIQUOR LAWS.
Good TempIars Want a Much
Better Enforcement.
Chief TempIar Grant Rogers Has a
Bill for the Legislature,
Which is Expected, il Passed, to Wipe Out
the Rumshops.

Watervillc. Me-, Feb. 21.-For i long
expressed dissatisfaction in the man
ner in which Names prohibitory laws
have been and are being enforcd.
Grand chief Templar Grant Rogers, a
lawyer and ex-county attorney of Sag
adahoc, has drawn UP a bill to be pre-
scented to the State Legislature for i'm
mediate action. 1t deals with obliga-
tory imprisonment. requires every
judge asking each prisoner for intoxi-
cation where he got his liquor; IL
takes liquor prosecution away from
the county attorney and is OF char
acter to cause a general sensation.
The bill is of seven sections. the first
of which provides as follows
Any complainant who Institutes
proceedings against any person or per-
sons for viola ton of the law prohibit
ing the sale. keeping for sale or manu-
featuring of intoxicating liquor may
employ at his own expense any attor-
ney at law to prosecute such action for
final judgment"
fine of not less than $50 on any Judge
or justice who fails to inquire of any
prisoner brought before him for intox-
ication. where he procured the liquor
and of whom.
The other sections are explained in
A personal letter from Mr.. Rogers.
which has been sent to every Good
Templar lodge In Maine and reads as
follows:
Dear Co-Norkers:
Find enclosed petition which please
have signed by as many adult citizens
as possible and return to me before
March s. Have your most influential
citizens sign first.
Many are deferred from signing COM
plants and instituting proceedings be-
cause the county attorney can thwart
their efforts by mol pros or summary
disposition of the cases when they
reach the supreme judicial court Sec
ton L. would obviate this difficulty
Section ,. makes the Imprisonment op-
liSaiory instead of discretionary. I'M
prisonment has far greater terror for
the guilty than fine. Under the pres
ent disEraceful system as practiced in
nearly every county. only those who
cannot pay,a small fine. once or twice
year. are sent to Jail.
Section ;, imposes Jail sentence for
keeping a liquor nuisance. Section 4.
makes ii compulsory for the Judge or
justice to inquire of every prisoner
brought before him for intoXication. of
WHOM, he procured the liquor and to is
sue warrant against the victimizer.
Sections and empowers citizens.
equally with relatives, with the right
to notify sclectmcn and liquor agents
of the incorporate habits of any per-
son.
At the last Grand Lodge session os
Maine Good Templars it was voted
that every subordinate lodge appoint
committee to work for the election of
honest, fearless municipal and other
officials. Churches and all temperance
organizations are earnestly requested
to cooperate in this work for temper
ance and Christian men should. to a
man. attend the primaries where most
OF our elections are practically deter
mined. they should go as well organ
ized as the ring and work for the
nomination of honest men,
Give the men who stand for civic
righteousness the preference in bust
ness and at the polls. This is practi-
cal temperance and will count more
than mere sentiment. We should have
less sentiment and more work. Act
at once as our spring elections are at
hand' Fraternally,
GRANT ROGERS, G. c. r..
Richmond Me.