The Portland daily press., 1901-01-31

There has been a report that Mrs. Car
RE Nation was contemplating descent
upon Maine after her Kansas crusade is
c)mpletsd Indeed, we bslieve Mrs. M
ton herself mas limited at some such pur-
pose. There Is no immediate danger, per-
hAps, of her appearance, since the work OF
smashing the rumshops OF Kansas is far
from complete, but then she is something
like a cyclone, appearing without much
PREVIOUS announcement. Notwithstand-
ing the wave of enforcement that has
recently swept over the state Mrs. Nation
may yet find plenty of opportunities for
the exercise of her peculiar talents in a
num Der OF Maine cities. The adornments
OF Maine saloons are not so elaborate and
cost'y as those in Kansas, but the Ak
could find plenty to smash here. by
mere we do not mean Portland. In Port
land, fince the Pearson administration
came IN, about the only reiict OF the busi-
ness Is the pocket peddler, whom 1t
would not be quits legal, even under
Mrs. Nations liberal Interpretation of
law, to smash with an ak, Most
of the plate glass mirrors and out glass
oecanters have been called in ana the
mahogany and rose wood counters are
now covered with articles that are not
oontraband OF war. Mrs. Nation would
find little excuse for tarrying long In
Portland unless to reouperate her health
and nerve her right arm for encounters
elsewhere. But In some other cities of
the State 1t is different. Rumor has 1t
that ip the capital city 1t Ia not nscessary
to seek out the pocket peddler to quench
ones thirst or to take third story room
in hotel and be seizsu with sharp
and sudden attack OF collie. Augusta
would be altogether the best place in the
State for an objsct lesson. 1t could be
given there in the presence OF legislators,
who would speedily communicate their
Impressions of its propriety and effective
ness to all parts OF the State. A mirror
smashing in Augusta would be reflected
from kittery Point to Quoddy Head.
Then, too, II Mrs. Nation happened along
near the cioEe OF the session, she might be
abls to recruit a small and select corps of
smashers, without paying more than
small bounty, whose skill and experiences
might prove very servicsable. Here, too,
Mrs. Nation would find large number
of gentlemanly officials to whom she
might tender a piece of her mind. We do
not know where the giided SER
pents are located In Augusta. but a per
sonally conducted tour by Mrs. Nation
would soon disclose their ha bitats
Bangor is apparently outside the enforce
ment wave, and it is doubtful II public
sentiment there is yet strong enough TO
endorse the reckless welding OF the ak
amid plate glass mirrors and mahogany
counters. The Queen city has a system OF
regulating the liquor trafficspeculiarly it's
own, and when 1t gets set on a
thing it brooks no outside interference.
Lewiston would have been favorable
spot few weeks since, but recently 1t
has gone dry, so rumor says, and nothing
stronger than Uno beer is allowed. The
sale OF this Is not accompanied with plate
glass mirrors or mahogany counters,
There ars other spots In the State which
would probably furnish opportunities for
a display OF Mrs. Nations abilities,
but 1t seems to us that she can do
the most good in the shortest time by
combining herself to Augusta. There Ia
the center of political Influence A move
ment set on foot there will radiste into
ali parts OF the State. There the AK
can be laid at the root of the tree.