The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-17

opportunity the people have voted over
whelmingly in favor of prohibition.
Sin regard to what Mr.. Manley says
about many of our best men thinking
that the cause of temperance would be
better promoted by local option and high
license law, can only say that think
that Neal Dow never spoke truer words
than when he said There Is not now and
never has been in this country, a locality
where the policy of license has diminished
the liquor traffic, or the evils coming from
it,
81 have carefully studied this question,
in nearly every State in the Union. and
don't believe that any one who really
desires the promotion of the temperance
cause, and is fully acquainted with the
facts as to the results of any form of H.
cense law, could conscient1ously say that
the cause of temperance Would be better
promoted by license than prohibition.
IT think there are several objections to
again submitting to the people, with
view to repeal, the present constitutional
provision. 1t is only sixteen years since
the people considered this question, dur
Ing long and lively campaign, and set
led it at the polls. have not thought it
the wish or policy of the Republican
party to again favor resubmission. OF
course l am not unmindful OF the fact
that the Democratic party has in various
ways spoken in favor of resubmission.
II consider prohibition the settled poll
cy of the State, and do not think long
and expensive campaign would change
present conditions. do not, however
fear the result of resubmission. L be-
lieve, and have said repeatedly, not alone
in the different States of this country,
but in England and Scotland, that If the
question should go the voters in Maine,
the vote in favor of prohibition would be
as large as, If not larger than it was be-
fore. OF course If the women could
vote the majority would be immensely
larger.
81 do not agree with Mr.. Manley that
we have practically a license law in
Maine. No pleader for mercy at the
hands of a rumseller in this State can to-
day be answered as Neal Dow was fifty
years ago when the liquor seller pointed
to his license and said: i have the right
to sell liquor; it Is my Legitimate bust
ness I don't wonder that Mr.. Manley,
referring to the methods which have been
allowed in this State, which l consider
reasonable methods, says that it is not
the right and proper course to pursue.
1.-The marvel is that the dominant par.
ty in this State and the party which has
stood IN the past for the promotion Of
great moral ideas, should have allowed
such violations of the constitutional Law
which, repeat,is nothing less than trea.
sonable.
"The election of Mr.. Pearson hal
proved that public sentiment in Cumber
land county is in favor Of the enforce
ment OF the prohibitory law. We are tolt
that some voted for Mr.. Pearson who d.
not believe in prohibition and who woulC
not vote for it If it were a clear cut issue
This may be true to some extent but, OF
the other hand, there are, 1 believe, more
who voted the straight Republican ticket
who, If the issue were plainly prohibition
or license, would vote for prohibition.
mot alone is Cum berland county at
footed by the election of Mr.. Pearson. but
the whole State, as many letters I re-
ceived yesterday and today plainly indi
cate, to say nothing of the attitude Of
the press Of the State.
Prohibition is on trial in the State OF
Maine, and / may say the city of Port.
land, as 1t is nowhere else and the tenn
perance people of the world viii rejoice
over the result of last Mondays vote.
think Mr.. Manley, as a party leader, has
acted wisely in noting this significant
action, and 1 don't believe he really
favors resubmission. 1 think what he
said was merely a friendly nod 20 some OF
his party friends who advocate high Ii.
| cense.
II wish to reiterate that I am not
afraid OF resubmission. / should rather
put my time and work, II am spared to
work, into some other direction. But II
there should be another campaign the
liquor interests viii feel worse at the
close than anyone else.
''Or course you do not expect me to dis.
cuss the fee system, or that OF taxation ]
consider that the Temperance question,
morally and financially, is Of greater I'M
portance than anything else L will say,
however, that favor the change proposed
at the last Legislature in regard to the fee
SYSTEM"