The Republican journal., 1903-09-24
The MAINE W. 6. 7. U.
,otD THEIR ANNUAL CONVENTION
IN DOVER.

Al the opening session of the an
l convention of the Maine w. c. L.
m Dover, Sept. 18th.
,rpsjdent Mrs. L. NJ. n. Stevens pre-
ed at the opening session and after
.,,ioual service the work of organl-
NOM was quickly completed. The re-
.qder of the morning session was
4n up with the reports OF superln-
tents, and the address of Mrs. Stew
who spoke as follows:
.ne white ribboners of Maine always
rond promptly when asked to circu-
= petitions to cooperate with the
oi of the State, of which it is an
aortant part. l wish now to speak,
.4ejally of legislative matters, par
9arly of that part relating to the
mlbitory law of our State. 1t is
lin necessary with such as you to
new the story of prohibition in
line. The prohibitory law of Maine
, Enacted by the legislature in 1851
received the signature of the gov
mr. June =, 1851, thereby becoming a
tutory law. The influence OF the law
rood was felt almost Immediately.
hp sure. there were some unfalthful
GERS then as now, but the law on the
a.r was we'll enforced. There was a
.5t reduction in public expense caused
Huperism and crime.
i 5'Withstanding this license was
.ttuted in 1856 for the prohibitory
out the people had seen the bene-
Of prohibition and in 1858 the pro-
tory law was re-enacted. In the
,.ature there were 12S votes for and
- votes against it. 1t was not
,,ary for the question to go before
p0ple. but as a matter of form. 1T
to the voters in Maine, and at a
al election, and by an immense ma
-y. they sustained the action of the
3ture in substituting prohibition
seuse. In 1884 the question was
r submitted to the people, this time
question of making the law more
nent by dignifying it by placing
HE constitution of the State, and
ote of three to one the prohlbltory
H Maine was made part OF the
lmenta OF constitutional law.
Lave been frequent attempts Tor
omission having i'll view the repeal
O., iaW or the substitution for 1t of
form of license. \ vote of the
..ture in 1908 on the bill to resub
- TODD t15 against resubmlsSlon to
.ayor. but the question is not set
lis the enemies of prohibition have
red that such an effort will be put
is will bring about the reversal
III 1909.
analysis of the petition and re-
rauceS indicate that those deslr
submission were largely represen-
-.s Of the liquor trade either as
rs or would be sellers, and some
r close sympathizers. Those who
strated were clergymen, educa-
nd farmers, philanthropists and
ot the solid business men OF the
Besides many thousand of lndl-
signatures to the remonstrances,
- We're remonstrances from hun
# churches, from young peoples
societies, philanthropical socie-
Wrch societies, etc, but this did
r title the question.
the same day that the resubmission
rrution met in Bangor the Baptists
NObscOt county were holding a
.ug III Bangor and resolutions
It resubmission, and i'll favor of
ition and its strict enforcement
.. unanimously adopted. A few
, alter the State convention of the
IAN denomination was held in the
.- t.ty. and declared similar resolu-
might enumerate great many
.e rs of similar character and eX-
.-- .n, but these few which have late
.ru place are more than enough to
HE reSubmissiOn club meeting.
"a two bands of music, railroad
-- rpeIy paid to give the Indifferent
chance to be present, ,.idespread
5uorate advertising, they succeed
3llecting 600 people, the largest
ate of the people at the famous
-.r resubmission meeting. The
uel of the speakers is too well
49,, TO call for a description by me.
~ we're Enthusiastically those who are
1le with the liquor interests, both
md outside of the State. Their
IS much like that which appears
tter week i'll the Wine and Spirit
-N- the Washington Sentinel, The
E Liquor Dealer, Donforth's Wine
.. spirit Circular Liquor Trades Re
@ and other journals published. in
interest of the liquor business.
larre have been in the State a few
-lI4ranee men who favored resubmis-
urlieving that a re-atfirmation OF
pruMbitory law would bring stricter
Nunvment, but it is evident that those
'9 low stand for resubmissiOn are
5ug IN abetting the liquor interests
tthe state and nation. 1t is from this
lass tlat the attempt for resubmisslon
0les Money from the National Ii
ar Manufacturers and Dealers AS
@4auOn will be sent to Maine, no
HqlI some has already come as it was
Wi Gu Vermont and New Hampshire,
. e.p overthrow prohibition. The
'a-e will be flooded with resubmission
. ,cense literature.
General manager of the National
-4l9y Dealers Protective Bureau re-
t1-l asst June that during the year
'0reau had sent out 2,515, 900 pieces
'-rature, which have been largely
rl .o parts where prohibition cam
@s9r were pending or anticipated.
EvsUouid always make the point clear
DAT 8e do not fear the result of it, if
-lFeStion of retaining the prohlbltory
"a We're again submitted to the voters
Vi Name. There never was time when
a- -trmperance cause was advancing as
aHdIy as now.
T. is generally admitted by sociolo-
sats that while the advance of civiliza.
ta rnlarges the sphere of individual
,s ,s and liberty, society must also ad-
i'lee by an increased and strict en-
0ttment of the prohibition statute.
HE report of the treasurer at the