Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-27
THE RUM WAR
In Androscoggin County
Assumes New Phase.
Alleged That Deals Are Being
Made by the Dealers
And Sheriff Cummings Denies Any
Completely in Matter.

Portland, Me-, Sept. 26.-The Port
! land Express says:
! Ale was on sale in many places III
! Lewiston, Saturday night, and the
| Lewiston Sun, this morning, contained
I an article which virtually charged
/ Sheriff Charles Cummings of Auburn
a minister and chaplain Of the Isl
/ Maine Infantry, with operating a plan
by which liquor was to be openly SOU
during the remainder of his term
Sheriff Cummings was defeated LOT
recollection two weeks ago by the
Democratic candidate and since that
time there have been rumors that the
LIQUOR stores of the Spindle city We're
TO reopen. The plan is sad TO DE 10
allow - dealers i'll Lewiston to sell
and pay the sheriff $50 a month.
Sheriff Cumming. in an interview
with an Express reporter over the
long distance telephone, denied that ne
had any plan, but said that the sale
of liquor had increased since election
ana that it might increase to some ex-
tent from now on. In reply to ques-
ton. Mr. cummings said:
There is no plan and there will be
no plan 50 long as | am in office. There
has been an increase in the liquor bus
mess since the election and there Will
probably be a further increase. Moth
ing less than that could be expected
when a ma jority of the people of An
droscoggm county are opposed to the
enforo ement Of the prohibition law"
WAS there general opening up of
liquor shops, Saturday night, as is
printed in this mornings Lewiston
sun"
Il don't know about any general
nneninu UP of rum shops. but undoubt-
ely there was more liquor sold, Satur-
day night. than at any time previous
during my administration. There was
liquor sold al through my admins
tratiun. look for it's sale to increase
from now on. III. people voted for it.
"Huw about the story in the Lewis
ton sun that you had plan by which
- liquor dealers were to be allowed
to sell upon payment Of so Il month
besides Il regular tx Of 81 a barrel on
ale"
Il can simply state that | have no
| plan. Th2t | hav made no arrange
| ments with the liquor dealers and that
my officers will be Vigilant in the fu-
| ture The deputies have been in at
| tendance on the grand jury for tho
past week. which mas given the liquor
| dealers better chance. Then the
| state Fair will soon be held. ana tier
is always an increase in the business
ut such times.
Are there any open rum shops in
Lewiston, today"
THE few places which have been
selling on the sly since | nave beer in
office are probably doing business, to-
day, but as FAR as | know there has
been no wide opening. My deputies
are ON the warpath. today, but have
mad" n" seizures. There was one sei2-
ure made, Saturday night
This mornings Lewiston Sun saws:
A question that seems to be agitatinG
the good people of Lewiston and Au-
burn is, Has there 4 deal been made
for frea rum" Many say "Yes.'
Sheriff Cummings says NO. not to my
| knowledge" Many who had grea,
confidence in Sheriff Cummings-wh
believe him to be strictly upright, hon
est and far above anything of so Sc
riouS nature as is now charged against
| his administration. express their sur
| prise at present conditions. Is it pos
70 Sible that :, deal has been made witt
Sheriff Cummings or his deputies o.
both, for free rum ?" asked q Lewiston
- man If considerable prominence" ard
who has always been an ardent sup.
porter Of Sheriff Cummings. Il ar
| -, hoe
really been made ana that it went into
effect. Saturday night. | am told thai
| f,ldri1ge'S ale WAS ON dlaught in {
place alleged to he run by Fat Doyl"
that there We're more than Il duZeI
a other places in the city where beer ans
ale could b. bought over = bar. Sdtur.
dav night. do t like to believe thi:
but the source from which ] get III,
information. | can't diSbrli"vc tina
there is really something in this talk o
deal for fire" rum And yet | don't he
!ieve that Sheriff Cummings is himsel
PARTY to any rum al but am no
90 sure about what lis deputies ma,
hav" done. How"Vc". up to this tim
| lave had the highest opinion OF tn
liquor deputies. hay" believed then
strictly honest in their work and aff
cient Before will believe all this talk
| shall see more with my own eyes"