New-York tribune., 1902-12-25
TO STOP sale OF LIQUOR
Goueruor HiH of Name GiUes
Strict Orders to .SherifS-Elef

Augusta Me- Dec q (specIal,.-As the first day
! of the new year approaches the liquor dealers in
most of the sixteen counties OF this State are be-
| ginning to worry the prospect that confronts
them. Not since the passage of the first prohib-
| tory law. half century ago. has there been such
| a political upheaval in Maine occurred In the
| September election, far as the enforcement OF
| the liquor law is concerned. For many years only
a few Of the sixteen shertfs have attempted 10 see
that the law lived up to- In two counties only
have the sheriffs appointed special deputies TO
| assist in stopping the sale Of liquor. though the
law gives authority to all sheriffs to avail them
selves of this privilege In most Of the counties
therefore. there has really been no enforcement.
except by the local police officers.
The local officers have maintained sort OF op-
ton arrangement by which dealers permitted
TO do business provided they close their shops and
open them at hours approved by the police. In
addition. regular intervals dealers are obliged
to appear at the county and pay fines because
of their violation of the law This was not much
of hardship In most of the counties the fine
would not amount TO more than $50 and costs each
year. The dealers complying with the regulations
thus imposed have had perfect freedom in conduct
ing their business, and many of them have grown
wealthy They have done business openly as
though they were in Westinghouse. Boston,
Broadway. New-York, and had paid the regular
license fee.
But all this is to be changed 1t is reported that
Governor Hill has given explicit instructions to all
the newly elected sheriffs that they must thor
oughly and impartialy enforce the liquor law as
soon as they Office January l. Four
of the sixteen sheriffs-eect Democrats, two OF
whom elected because they pledged them
selves to enforce the prohibtory law. The other
two are practically in favor of allowing liquor to
be sold under regulations similar to those which
have been in vogue for many years.
Five of the twelve Republican sherfs-elect
former incumbents who have permitted the sale
of liquor within their jurisdictions under the
rangement described. Some of these sherfs have
been enforcing the law In their counties since the
election. All of the seven Republicans who to
take office for the first time January 1 say that
they stand the platform of the last Republican
State Convention. which declared that the
must and shall be enforced
In counties 1t is fntimated that the
against tho liquor will be of short duration.
But that 1t will surely be on for a while is the
ready to go out of business the new
sherffs take ,office. In Cumberland and Knox
counties. where unpledged Democrats were elected,
1t is thought that open times will prevail. In
the former county, however 1t is understood that
the Republican county attorney will that
dealers severely punished If he evil
dence against them
The question OF the resubmssion OF the prohib-
ftory amendment to the constitution adopted i'm
1884. by the incoming legislature, is arouse
much opposition, though the sentiment in favor of
its repeal is much stronger than 1t two years
do with the Governors order to the sherffs
they must stop the sale of liquor Should the order
be faithfully obeyed 1T is probable that the cam
paign of 1904 in Maine will see fierce contest in
favor of the repeal OF the constitutional amendment
and the establishment of license law.