The Portland daily press., 1900-07-20
Prohibition Candidates Address at
WeStbrOOk.
Says If Elected He VIII Save
County Money.

sRev. S. f. Pearson, Prohibition candi-
date for sheriff, addressed an audience of
one hundred IN Odd Fellows hall at
Westbrook last evening.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Ernest Brag don of the Prohibition city
Rev. A FL. Kearney, pastor of the
Berean Advent church and Rev. G. f.
Parsons, pastor of the Methodist church.
Mr.. Bragdon introduced Mr.. Wentworth
as chairman of the meeting. Rev. A H.
Kearney offered prayer and then Mr..
Wentworth addressed the meeting briefly.
He then introduced Mr.. Pearson. AS Mr..
Pearson stepped to the front of the plat
form he was greeted with a round of ap-
plause. Near the front of the platform
sat a table on which was placed pitcher
OF water. Mr.. Pearson said that if he
was to be sheriff, he believed it the duty
of a true sheriff to remove every bar, and
suiting the action to the word, Mr.. Pear
son moved the table to the rear Of the
PLATFORM receiving a generous round Of
appause.
Mr.. Pearson said that he believed the
people wanted an honest enforcement of
the prohibitory law He then went on to
read the law relative to the duty of the
sheriff and his deputies. II have been
told" said Mr.. Pearson, ''that If was
not careful of what l said I would be
prosecuted for libel. I declare to you that
my name IS Pearson and what tell you
are facts, and if anyone wants to prose
cute let him come on. (Appause.)
"The viii of the people is, believe, for
the enforcement Of the prohibitory law.
tell you that prohibition does prohibit.
You can't shoot a person unless there is a
man behind the gun, neither can you en-
force the prohibitory law unless a man is
behind the law. What have we got IN the
Office of sheriff today 1t is a man who
was made up without backbone, but in
stead was given tape string for back
bone, 50 that he oaA be wiggled around
at the win OF the rumseliers. daughter
and applause.)
81 don't wish to malign any man, Z"
said Mr.. Pearson, but do desire to tell
facts. Orren Il. Despeaux has been
sheriff of this county for nearly two
years now, and l ask you according to
his duties as defined by law has he been a
consistent officer? My friends. I have
been told on good authority that Des-
peaux told prominent politician prior
to his election two years ago that If
elected he would enforce the law to the
letter.
eff Sheriff Despeaux can swear that he
has honestly enforced the law, say to
you that he has mighty little knowledge
and ability as regards his duty. We have
had during the past ten years in this
county three sheriffs, Messrs. Cram,
Plummer and Despeaux Let me give
you some figures regarding the number
of arrests for drunkenness. During the
last year of Sheriff Webb's term of office
there were 1899 arrests for drunkenness.
Sheriff Cram during his first year made
343 arrests; second year PIP; third year
400; fourth year, 667. Sheriff PIummer
during his first year made 874 arrests;
second year, 9SS; third year, OF and
fourth year, 1175.
During Sheriff Despeaux's first year
there were 1149 arrests for drunkenness.
There are today in the city of Portland
253 persons holding United States liquor
licenses. -
Mr.. Pearson went ON to speak of the
methods in use by the sheriffs in making
seizures, the calico horse coming in for
due notice. He said he wondered the
sheriffs didn take brass band with
them when they went to make seizure
Mr.. Pearson next criticized the matter
/ 81 III
prisoners. He said the sheriff is allowed
50 week for every prisoners board,
when in reality IS cents per week would
pay the bills.
July 1st there were 166 boarders at the
county jail, which means an expense of
$l7,264 a year to the county and a profit
of over $4,000 for the sheriff.
Mr.. Pearson said thai If elected sheriff
of the county he would guarantee to save
the county $4,000 year on It's board bill
81 have been told by former official
of the sheriff's office, that the office
honestly administered its worth about
$1,000 a year, but politicians claim it to
be worth 81, OO0." Mr.. Pearson next
spoke of the law in Massachusetts, and
said that no saloon was allowed within
400 feet OF a s1hoolhouse. He then showed
a chart of certain streets in the center of
Portland, with black marks indicating
sixteen saloons within $50 feet of school
house. '1his is not the fault of prohibit
tion," he said, "but rather of nullihca-
ton. (AppIause,) I do not desire to pose
as being smarter than any other man,
but l do say that ii | take an oath
know what it means, and declare to you
ii elected sheriff of this county, that l
will either perform my duty or die in the
undertaking." (Applause)
Mr.. Pearson said he believed that If the |
officers could close the saloons on holt