New-York tribune., 1901-06-02

dc Mat0g 6 10 Ts s e5 in the d3ys aSe Of waS ens
Il wish you would sell no more liquor 10 Mr.
why. Mr.. Dow" he said, this is my business.
/ must supply my customer 81. = .,,-
gentleman with q large family depending on him
for support. If he goes 10 his office to-morroW
drunk he viii lose his place. wish you would sell
He became somewhat angry; told me that he too
had family 10 support: that be had license 10
sell liquor 10 whomsoever ne pleased, and that he
didn't care to have me meddling with him.
support your family by destroying that mans?
went home thoroughly determined to devote my
The Maine law originated in that rumshop.
RADICAL INNOvATION.
on Nav go 1851 Mr.. Dow appeared before the
Maine Legislature. at Augusta. with peculiar bill.
one that embodied radical innovation 1t was
for the curtaiment and possible suppression OF the
liquor traffic by statutory prohibition To this BILL
or petition was appended long list OF names,
chiefly Of Portland people including not few Of
her most prominent citizens. The legislature was
composed Of a majority of Democrats in both
houses the balance consisting Of Wings and Free
Sellers. The Governor, John Hubbard. was Dem
ocrat. Although IL was political innovation OF
character unlikely 10 retire 10 private life In
the next campaign the men who supported ii, yet.
10 the public's surprise, Mr.. Dows odd bill, which
he had prepared with great care, and eoquently
advocated at a legislative hearing. passed both
branches without alteration May 3l-the wings
signed by the governor on June p The was:
House SIS TO 40; Senate, IS 10. The Governor
IN sympathy with the measure, put dlo
not fit TO veto II in the face OF large ma
The thing was done, but the end was not yet
Neal Dow his return to Portland, round Ior-
midable revolt in his own WING party Wnlch
threatened TO prevent his proposed candidacy Tor
Mayor. But by the help of outside support from
Maine law men he nominated and elected by
large majority both Al the co1yention Ions ana at the
second term as Mayor there occurred the so-called
Dow rum riot This the attempt OF a mob
break into the old City Han basement ana seize
liquor deposited there which Mayor Dow in his his
official capacity, and IN accordance with a city
ordnance mad bought for the city agency. The
the police and military acung under orders OF the
Mayor, who had placed hlmset az their mead.
John Robbins. a sailor, VINO led the mob, was
killed and several others were wounded. This was
quickly followed by the arraignnent Of Mr.. Dow
on a technical charge Of buying liquors with intent
10 sell illegally The exciting trial, In which Judge
William Pitt Fessenden defended the respondent,
Judge Henry Carter presiding resulted in the &C
eU.ttal Of Mayor Dow.
THE LAW REPEALED.
The result Of all of which was the capture of the
State in the fan election by the anti-Maine law
forces. the placing in the Governors chair or the
Democratic candidate, Samuel Wells and the re-
A year later in the exciting Fremont-Buchanan
Presidential campaign. the temperance question
ignored, and Maine was carried by the Re-
publicans a tidal wave. electing Hannibal HAM
lin Governor by a majority OF about twenty thou
sand and the Fremont and Dayton electors by an
Increased margin Of FIVE thousand. The next leg
islature promptly reinstated the Maine law ana
thus for fifty years one. II has been upon the
statute book modified scores or times 10 give II
grip as desired by its llustrious author, and
reinforced in 1884 by a constitutional prohibitory
amendment IN conformity with popular vote OF
107S3 to o sIl majority OF 1872. nearly three
10 one which took effect January ], lss5-