The Portland daily press., 1900-05-21
The Cold Water Man Says He Can
Be Elected,
And He. Will Make the
Campaign Lively.
What He Has 10 Say About
His Candidacy.

Rev. Samuel II. Pearson, who war
nominated by the Prohibitionists at
their convention the past week for sher-
III. 10 to conduct an active campaign.
He rays he believes that with the as
surances which he has already received
he stands more than an even chance to
be elected to that most important POSI-
uon. The strongest assurances, he says,
which he has received are from leading
Democrats who have stated to him that
the Democratic convention may endorse
his candidacy or may 60 even further
and give him the regular nomination for
sheriff.
"Yes, sir, I expecs to be elected" said
Mr.. Pearson to reporter Of the PRESS
on Saturday afternoon. "Things In this
county regarding politics are nov In the
most chaotic condition that has ever been
known. There are . large number Of
Republicans who are completely dissatis-
fed with the way In which affairs have
been mismanaged In the sheriff's depart
ment, and prominent Republican told
me this very day that nine-tenths Of the
party wished to see q change In the
sheriff inoumbency. Most certainly the
Republican party 10 this county has
never been 90 hostile to the incumbent
Of the sherin's office as ut the present
time. A few days ago went out to
MindhAm and delivered three spseohes
before an audience which was not COM
posed Of mem bers Of the Prohibition
party, and at the close Of these meetings
Q number Of citizens came forward and
said that they hoped would be nomi-
mated for sheriff. This 10 the feeling, ]
believe, that prevails throughout Cum
bsrland county. have been looking up
facts and when the time comes I am GO
ing to make speeches which will create
. sensation. What shall say regard
ing these subjects will be authentic
and today ! have consulted lawyer In
order that could tell him just what
was going to say and SO that nothing
Iibellous might be said In my remarks.
The lawyer whom / saw carefully looked
over the matter and told me that there
would be no fear of q libel The facts
are now prepared and 1 am going to chal-
lenge Sheriff Despeaux for joint de-
bate ut Portland,at Brunswick, at Bridg-
ton and at Ssbago Lake. when au
elected shall appoint as liquor deputies
men who can be depended upon to aid
me In the endorsement OF the law. And
l will not begin at the bottom and creep
up In my endeavors to close all OF the
rum shops. 1t has always been my prin-
ciple to start at the top and this 10 the
way that shall do In this case. shall
hA haH in ha
hotels and will stop the sale of liquors
in the leading apothecary stores. When
you find that these places are shut oil
from selling liquor you will find that
the cheaper and lower places will become
afraid ana will follow suit. One we'll
known liquor dealer stopped me on the
street only this morning and said that
II was elected he would close up his
place at onns. He explained to me that
no shop would want to take any chances
with me. Another man said that II
! should be elected sheriff I would be
killed inside of three months after
had taken the oath Of office. I have no
fear on that SCORE. During the war / was
q provost down in Norfolk, Va, when
that town was under martial law. The
rules were that all lights should be put
out ct O'Clock every night. A couple
OF my assistants had trouble one night
with a ram-crazsd negro who refused
to put out tie light 10 HIS house at the
appointed hour. The negro attempted for
q few minutes to make trouble about the
matter. He was shot down dead ~ my
assistant. do not look for any trouble
ON this SCORE for men In this part of the
country want their freedom far too
much to act In any desperate manner.
The only trouble that would perhaps
result would be In drunken row when
men do not stop to consider the conse-
>quenoes. The rum shops can be Gloss
in this city II the officers only show a
disposition to close them. They will
be closed provided am elected"
Mr.. Pearson predicts that Grant Rog-
ers. the Prohibition NOMINEE for COVER
nor, will received between two AID three
thousand votes and that no will prove to
be q very strong candidate. He says that
Candidate Rogers is to make sharp can
vass and also says that he Will draw
heavily from the ranks OF Good Tenn
plars, the Soma OF Temperance aud all
Of the other temperance organizations
in the state.
Chairman Perrigo OF the state commit
tee OF the cold water party, has reconsid-
cred his determination not to continue as