Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-06

AS companion piece for that de-
l1gntful occasion / want to depict a
scene which transpired = few weeks la
ter and of which L was an eye witness
L was coming down Danforth street in
Portland between twelve and one
O'Clock at noon and ash approached the
corner of Centre street, Known as Cor
hams corner and which is the tene-
ment house district of Portland. my at
tention was attracted by d large crowd
gathered in front of a tenement house.
This section of our city is tenanted by
Ia boring men and their families, the
street laborers, longshoremen and the
poorer classes of our fellow-citiZens
who live there, five and six and some
times more families under one roof. |
stopped and asked a man who stood by,
what was the cause of the excitement.
He said: the sheriffs are searching
for beer Then l noticed wagon
backed up against the curb and on the
seat was Deputy Sheriff Leach whom /
slightly knew. In few minutes
Deputy Sheriff the Rev. Henry T. Skill
lings appeared with a case of beer in
his arms. followed by man begrimed
and black with coal dust. evidently Il
coal HEAVIER, who was rainly protesting
against the seizure. The beer was
placed ir the wagon. Skillngs mounted
the seat and drove away, and the man
or his wife were before the court the
following day and received the due
penalty of the law. And as read the
Court Records in the next days paper
wondered if that coal HEAVIER had ever
ca1I Of ha ha of
supreme Court and if so. what his
opinion was of law and justice as eX-
emplified in THE land of the free and
the home of the brave" under the
Maine Prohbitory Liquor Law. Mr.
Speaker, ! have the utmost respect for
the Supreme Court of Maine. They are
Il body of learned, accomplished iurists
and gentlemen and an honor to their
State. ! voted for the increase in their
salaries from profound sense of duty
and with much pleasure. No appro-
priation will pass this house, that in
my humble Judgment is more worthily
bestowed. / want the judges of our
courts to be able to live as BELTS their
honorable position and nave cham
payne enough to enable them to sit
with dignity and composure and keep
their Countenances while they impose
fines of six hundred dollars orsentences
of six months in jail upon the mis-
cradle devils who sell glass of beer.
Mr. Speaker l have learned that vir-
tue and temperance are not the pecu-
liar prerogatives of any particular class
Of people: that they dwell as frequently
in the humble homes of side streets as
they do in mansions. avenues and boule
wards; that they are clothed as fire.
.1uertly in calico prints, overalls and
jumpers. as in silks, satins. broadcloth
and fine linen, that they travel as fire.
1uently, as fast and as far when shoa
With cowhide boots as when enclosed
in patent leather so they find as sure
a haven in the breast of the poorest
man who breaks his scanty loaf of
daily bread as in that of the millionaire
WHO caryes his canvas back duck. and
hat they thrive as we'll on beer and
bologna sausage as they dc on birds
and burgundy.
I am glad to believe that notwith-
standing the difficulties which prohi-
|hition places in the path Of temperance,
drunkenness is diminishing in this fair
land If .prsy Sobriety has become
practical necessity. and if people want
to escape reproach,. II they want TO be