The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-07
WEARY OF PROHIBITION
Maine Anxious fer Change in Her
Laws.
Allegations That They Are "a Farce
and That Liquor Is Sold Openly
EVeryyyhere-SheFin Making For
tunes, Although Drawing No Sal
aries-The Methods Resorted To.

BANGOR. Me, Oct AT last, after half
century of very disappointing experience
with prohibition, Maine seems at5olt TO
abandon the attempt to Iegislate the saloon
out Of existence, for the Republican party
has, through Joseph II. Marley Chairman
OF the State Committee, struck the note
that is taken as the deathkneu of Gen
eral DoW's pet law. In a letter published
the other day, dealing with various State
issues that must be met by the Republican
legislature next winter, Aanley suggests
mat the question of repeating the pronibi-
tory amendment to tho constitution be
submitted again to the people, saying that
he can see no objection to the resubmis-
sion OF the question, and, coming from this
source, the expression is taken as indica-
tive of the policy of the party In future
In the smaller counties the business Of
liquor selling is conducted more or less IN
der cover, and there are spasmodic at
tempts or offers at. enforcement of the law.
But liquor is sold everywhere, and the law
has fallen into disrepute and even into
contempt among all classes except among
those few who are included in the temper
ance organizations, so-called, and few
weli-meaning persons, whose zeal exceeds
their good judgment and practical knewi-
edge.
OF about 125, 900 voters in the State less
than 5000 are Prohibitionists, and this g.
$50 represents the number of people who
believe or pretend to believe that the Law
can be enforced with good results. Every
body else, taking the evidence of actual con-
ditions, knows that prohibition is a hope
less failure.
Manley's letter will afford to many
the encoura cement to take the stand
that they have long believed to be the
right one, but from which they have been
deferred for party reasons or for fear OF
being misunderstood and classsd as enc
mics CT temperance" It is a we'll known
fact that Bangor, where the Law has
been a dead letter for twenty years. is
the best behaved city in Maine 1t is
simply question OF whether good Iiq-
uors shall be sold openly and decently
or vile liquors sold secretly.
Ever since Maine became a State the
sherifTs OF the variou counties have
been making more money out OF their
offices than have the members of the
Supreme Court, the Governor, or any of
the members of Congress from the state.
It does not require any great ability 20
fill the Office of sheriff. and there is no
salary attached to the office. but the
fees, always considerable. have become
so large in the aggregate that the occu-
pant of the office in a large county soon
retires rich. Now there is a isoYement
to abolish the fee system
While in any county the sheritl has
good thing it is in counties where a pre-
tence is made OF enforcing the liquor law
that the Office comes near to being
mint. In AndToseoggin county. it is said.
the sheTif's place is good for S14, coo to
SIC, Geo year" and IL is known that ir
Penobscot county the sheriff gets from
5000 to $40, geo q year out Of his fees and
perquisitez- In Cumberland county the Of
fee pays S25, 600 year
the plans the sheriffs follow to get rich
are easy 1t is said of one sheriff that
he became a partner in cigar manu-
featuring firm, and that all liquor dealers
who desired to do business were notified
that they must buy the cigars of this firm
The cigars were very bad but every liquor
dealer N Portland bought them. in return
for protection" knowing that otherwise
his saloon would be made a special mark
for the raids of the deputies Another
sheriff made an arrangement with three
Massachusetts breweriss whereby he re-
ceived so cents for every barrel OF ale and
lager beer these hreweries sent into Port
land. in consideration of which thej, goods
were allowed 20 come in unmolested while
all other liquors were subject to seizure:
and all liquor dealers in Portland were
obliged to patronize these three breweries.
as il was unsafe TO have any other goods
on their premises This sheriff. II is said
made 500, eco out of his office IN a few
years.