The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-15
Evidence That There Is
a String To It.
Enforcement Pleases Some, Re-
submission Others.

The interview of Joseph III. Manley In
which he came out for tax reform and re-
submission OF the prohibitory amendment
in case it cannot be enforced, WAS quite
n general subject OF conversation about
the city yesterday. All sorts of opinions
were expressed privately, although most
were very chary Of expressing themselves
publicly on SO important questions.
In some quarters there was a disposition
to think that Mr.. Manley was recklessIy
arousing sleeping dogs, and that both the
questions Of taxation and resubmission
were likely to get undue prominence by
his utterances. 1t was pointed out also
that resu omission was plank from the
Democratic platform, and that Mr..
ManIey appropriation of it as Republi-
can property, would not be palatable to
the Republicans OF the legislature or to
the delegates to the next Republican
State convention. Others regarded the
interview in humorous light, and won
dered how much of it Mr.. Manley really
meant. 1t was pointed out that after
all the interview was cautiously wOrded,
and favored enforcement before resubmis-
sion In this way it was calculated to
please both the prohib1tionists ami the
resubmissionists.
There was quite a general tendency
to consider the recommendations relating
to tax reform as simply in line with
what is bound to come. The representa-.
tives of the corporate interests, which are
supposed to be greatly interested in the
taxation question, accept the situation
and say that they are not opposed to a
proper overhauling of the taxation laws.
Some prominent men from out of
town, speaking of the subject of resub.
mission from the standpoint of party
success, said that IN the central portion
of the State, where there had been nc
such movement as the Pearson move
ment here, there was nevertheless a res
tiveness which was Ominous. They be-
Iieved that Manley had seen that, and
that he had jumped onto the resubmis
sion train in good time. Others were
more doubtful about this proposition
They recalled that only five years ago the
late John Oliver Patten, of Bath, who
led a resubmlssion movement IN the
Maine legislature, was backed by hardly
dozen votes.
Mr.. Horace Purinton, of Watervine,
who is president OF the Civic League in
that city, and has been engaged In an ac
tive crusade against the liquors dealers OF
that city was in Portland yesterday, and
said to the PRESS that he endorsed the
ManleE interview in its call for an en-
forcenlent of the law. He believed in the
prohibiSSry law and did not want to see
repealed. Under local option some
towns that now have a prohibitory law
because of the general sentiment of the
State, would be deprived OF this support
and would go for license. He did not
could possibly be enforced. OF course, II
it was demonstrated that it could not
be enforced, then the sensible way would
be to try the next best thing.
Mr.. Purinton expressed no opinion as
TO the likelihood of resubmission prop.
osition being adopted by the people OF
the State, but others did. Some, espec-
tally among the younger men, thought
resubmission would be popular. Others,
who surveyed the field with more eau
ton, questioned this. They said that the
prohibitionists in the country towns
would be for the amendment They
thought that also the lower class OF
rumseIIers iir the cities would be for it;
because now they are practically free to
run their business with only occasional
visits from the officers. Whereas, under
license ana local option they would be
forced to fight against no license every
year, ana even If they got licenses, would
have to pay high and be under many vex-
atious restrictions with respect to hours
OF closing, nearness to churches and
schools, and vetoes from the residents
of the neighborhood.
Moreover, many managing politicians
through the State. who have built up re-