Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-04-02
". C. T. U. Column.
Conducted BY til. Ladies Of tn. W. c. +. ..


w nat One SneTfn mas Done.
There is at least one large city in the
United States where it IS practically
impossible TO buy liquor. Portland,
Maine, enjoys this enviable distinction
through the pluck and perseverance OF
it's Sheriff, Samuel F. Pearson. In less
than fourteen months he has trans
formed a city with three hundred blind
pigs into one where liquor can not be
bought today.
Without previous experience in the
enforcement of law he has proven
veritable nightmare to law breakers.
AT the time of his election he was su-
perintendent of Gospel Mission in
Portland. and Immediately received
the nickname f''tte Parson Sheriff"
His rousing victory over the liquor
dealers and his success since then is
rapidly giving him national reputa-
ton.
Sheriff Pearson is fifty-nine years of
age-a white haired, faultlessly dress
ed, energetic little man with the pluck
and determination of a giant. When
he accepted the nomIn alton of the Pro
hibition party for Sheriff of Cumber.
land County, little more than a year
ago, the politicians laughed. Tho Pro-
hibitionists had cast so few votes in the
previous election that they were not en-
titled to a place on the official ballot.
Electing county officer with nothing
hv,t bcS OBJ
time unknown. The office of Sheriff
was yielding revenue of about $40 600
year, and gradually the succeeding
Sheriffs had been paying less attention
to enforcing the prohibitory laws.
Two years ago the prohibition lead
ers of Portland, seeing the open saloons
run in defiance of the law, were almost
in despair. Finally they held q day of
prayer and fasting. and decided on Mr..
Pearson to run for county sheriff. He
refused at first. but at length. after
much prayer, he consented to the nomi.
nation. To the surprise Of everybody
he swept the county and had several
hundred votes to spare over the Repub.
lican and Democratic candidates
Since his election Mr.. Pearson has dis.
covered and raided over four hun
drsd public places and private houses
where liquor was being sold.
The parson sheriff has been offered
bride of $4,000 to let the liquor inter.
ests alone; his life has also been
threatened many times; and once a
mob Of five hundred attempted vio-
fence, but after a few words from him
they quietly dispersed. There is now
talk Of Mr.. Pearson running for Coy
ernor of Maine.
Following is an account, in his own
words, OF same of his work and its re-
suits:
ION the 31st day of December, year
ago, [ went to the Cumberland county
jail, and there IN the presence of the
county commissioners, was told to
hold up my right hand, aud l did 80,
taking the following oath:
Il, Samuel f. Pearson, do solemnly
swear before Almighty God, th at will
enforce the laws Of the State Of Maine,
and support and maintain its con stitu
ton according to the best of my abil-
ity, 80 help me God
II engaged in the work, and the first
day OF my term Of Office we seized six.
ty-one rum shops. I Immediately
drove to every hotel in Portland and
told them that they could have twenty
four hours to get their rum and liquors
out of the way and out Of the city, not
to be stored on the premises nor with.
in the limits Of Cumberland County.
Every hotel. keeper said to me, Mr..
Sheriff, We have got the best of you,
we sent it away Yesterday
After had been in Office for six
months thought would like to know
how true the prophecies of this Mr..
Butterick were. SO I took a carriage
and drove over the city, taking two of
the leading officials with me. I went
across to the largest retail boot and
shoe dealer in the State of Maine.
said, Brother Lane. have come to
ask you how business has been since l
have been enforcing the law He said,
Look down through that store-there
are four more clerks on that floor than
ever before since haYe been in bust
ness, and my trade has increased sixty