The Portland daily press., 1900-10-08

uuby ana Intend TO 90 Ii until the very
last day / am in office. | don't know
what the rum sellers thought, but do
know that after Mr.. Pearson g election
there were some rum shops still doing
business. / never sent them word to
close up or told anyone to tell them
they had better close up. What did do
was to give the police just as many
warrants to serve as 1 have been giving
them since the first OF last December.
On the first of the week they lighted on
a place on Centre street. / will mention
no names, and arrested the bar keeper
and took all the liquor there was In
sight. The attorney for this rum seller
came to see me about the case. He said
that this man was going to shut up his
place anyway on Saturday night, and
he wanted to know ii l would drop this
last case against him II he did shut up
on Saturday. l told this attorney that
should not drop the case whether the
man shut up or not. I told him it
made no difference to me whether the
man shut up or run right along. 1 said
that was going to keep right on with
this liquor selling business to the 31st
day OF December. The attorney then
asked me if I wouldn't hold up this
case against this Centre street man until
Monday morning and give him a chance.
l said that / would consent to the con-
tinuing Of the case against this liquor
dealer until Monday morning If the city
marshal wanted it continued, but I
would not drop the case then or any
time, and the bar keeper must walk up
and settle on Monday or go to jail.
''This case Of which we are speaking
was continued to Monday and then it
Will be brought before the court again.
Afterwards the attorney for this liquor
dealer came to see me again and said
that the largest liquor dealers had held
a meeting and that they had all decided
to shut up Saturday night l did not
tell this attorney or any other attorney to
tell their clients to close on Saturday
night or any other night. What did
tell them was that / should continue to
enforce the liquor law as long as any of
them remained open until my term OF
office expires.
RUM SELLERS TALK.
The PRESS reporter went down to see
some of these men who have been con
Quoting the largest liquor shops in the
city. He found three or four Of them
sitting about talking the matter over.
''We have shut up for good. said one
of these men in answer to a question by
the newspaper man. 1--WE have been pay
ing heavy tines and all of us have been
losing money. / decided that 1 could
not keep my place open and make any
money bstWeen now and January 1 II
had to pay three or four fines in the
meantime. So have quit
''Then you believe Mr.. Pearson viii
shut up all the shops in the city on Jan
uary 1, do your
"Wen, believe that he Win make it
pretty hard to do business In Portland
at profit If he don't a7tually close US
all up. 1 can't afford to run this sho
for fun or to take chances. haven't
got much left as it ISIS
"What do you think this town is COM
in to anyway asked one of the group.
The reporter said it was beyond him
'WeII, I'll tell you what 1t is coming
to- said the ex-soother OF thirst. "It
Will kill the business here as sure as I
am sinner. There'n be no more sum-
mer visitors come to Portland. Our
merchants will ind times mighty hard.
It's just going to kill this town and
some Of these prohibition cranks viii be
ko finch t, hob Nov 81 + -, },
tells and liquor dealers in Portland are
going to buy all their supplies hereafter
in Boston.
The PRESS reporter learned Saturday
that at the May and September terms OF
the Superior court So ), coo had been paid
into the county treasury in liquor fines.
Besides this S25, 900 worth of liquor has
heen seized ana spilled. The county of
Cum berland today has ST., 900 or there
about on deposit. On January l, 1901
it will have enough money TO pay all of
It's bonded and temporary indebtedness,
to pay all of it's current expenses up to
that time and will have in addition
s67, 900 on deposit.
The police got their customary two
warrants Saturday night and made two
searches for liquor. but didn't meet with
any great amount of success as the places
they visited were closed up.
The police Saturday evening made a
call at the Jefferson cafe In Monument
square, but the only thing found in tbs
shape of liquors were two bottles of beer.
WESTBROOK.