The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-02-22
Chairman Kelly Ques.
tions Opposition.
Succeeds In Mixing Some of
Them Up.
rsPEeIAr 10 THE fnEss.I

Augusta, February 2l.--Interest ut the
state House this afternoon oentered In
the question OF re-submission. 1t is sel-
dom that the committee on temperance
gives a hearing which attracts such an
attendance as that which filled Represen-
tative's hall this afternoon. The com
mittee consists OF Senators Stearns OF
Oxford, Dudley of Aroostook anu Tit
comb OF York and Representatives Kelley
OF Lewiston, Fuller of Kennsbunk,
SpraGue OF Easton, Tufts OF Kingfield,
Phoenix OF Alfred, Ross OF LincoInville
and Gain OF Clinton. The resnbmission
resolve which has awakened so much In
tsrest all over she state and been the
oausa of pstisions and remonstraneea by
the Thousand was introduced by Asr.
Kelley. the Houss chairman of the COM
mittee.
Among the ramonstrants who were
Stevens, president OF the w. q. L. u.
Rev. Wilbur II. Berry of the Christian
Civic league, Miss Harriet Leavitt of the
W. q. L. u, Horace Purington of Water
willie, ex-County Attorney Runnells Of
Waldo, Grant Rogers and u. A. Cain OF
the Good Templars, and SO many others
that they nearly filled the hall before this
representatives OF the petitioners arrived.
Representative Davis OF Waterviile, who
presented a resolve similar to MIR. kel-
Iey's, was the first speaker for the reti.
tioners, who were represented by Ogoar
II. Hersey. Esq, as counsel. Mr.. Davis
said that the measures before the COM
sure that all the members of the commit
tee desired all the light possible on a per-
picking question. MIR. Davis said that
he knew that he was taking the unpoDu-
lar side OF the question in assAiling po-
sition which mad bean regarded as I'M
l do not-w to be misunder-
stood. / am a friend OF temperance in
speech, food and drink, but am opposed
tn the constitutional and much OF the
special legislation on this subject, Iegis-
lation which as the figures show has sub
stituted fines for license fees and made
Maine the butt OF the ridioule OF the rest
Df the country.
MIR. Davis gave history of the legisla-
5lon on the subject and then said in part:
Fifty years have passed since the Maine
law began to take effect, and IL since
became constitutional law,
and Maine stands today exactly where
other license or local option states stand,
which do not boast OF such laws, with
this difference; along with the traffic
expense of criminal prosecn-
lion, and what works far greater injury |
to the physical well being OF the popula- |
tion a refusal to recognise and regulate |
a traffic, which as an outlaw Is dealing |
out misery In by-ways and alleys ami |
Kitchen bar rooms, and even from the |
pockets OF psddIars, as In my city today. |
q single restriction as to what Is |
sold
That our prohibition laws have been |
rigorous and comprehensive no one de- |
lies, that prohibition has been a signal |
allure, believe very few who have OBJ |
served Its workings will care TO deny.
The very best OF It that can be said by /
William Dewitt Hyde In furnishing a
,oncise history OF Maine for Johnson's |
is worth quoting as Impair
iai testimony. He said:
elm some sections OF the state, under |
ome officers and at some times, the law /
nss been fairly successful In preventing |
he sale OF Intoxicating liquors at other
lines and under other officers, the viola.
ion OF the law has been opsn and
isgrant, while during the greater por-
ion OF the time, both political parties
lave been nominally in favor OF prohibit
ion, neither Of them has given the law
hat consistent and persistent support
which IL necessary for its complete sue
ess. The prohibitory law has not pre-
ented political parties when In power,
rom seeking 20 control the iuuor dealers
q thsir own political interests.
These, gentlemen, are inoisive utter
noes from high authority. Ii proof were
iced TO show that prohibition has signal
failed to even regulate the liuqor traffic
: ssems only necessary to offer In evil
enee, the repeated, and to me more
igor0us and radical attempts &c Isgisla-
lon from 1876 70 the present time. II we
ove our state and all that pertains TO