Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-16

years out there and i know something
about its condition. / mentioned this
matter simply because those old men
who cannot get their beer as formerly
will go outside and win find something
else, and they are finding something
else now; and they are found drunk on
every mans doorstep, and before sum
mcr comes you will find them dead in
bushes by the roadside, killed by the
poison that comes from these agencies
at Chelsea and at Randolph The
manager of the Bleachery at Lewiston
told me that the most corrupting in
fuence in Lewiston upon his men was
the agency in Lewiston; and | have
had letters galore from various parts
of the State Of Maine, letters from the
city of Auburn telling me a pitiful tale
about the legalized rumshop in the
gentleman's (Mr. BrOwn's) own city
| ask, gentlemen, that this whole
system be abolished ] simply ask for
consistency. I claim that we have no
place for this system in our State when
Uncle sam schedules us here as a
wholesale liquor dealer and we pay a
special license tax to Uncle Sam of
$500 as a wholesale liquor dealer. !
say that when this great State of
Maine will not permit an Individual TO
handle this thing it has no right TO
maintain it under the guiSe Of an
agency law. l only ask you in behalf
of dccency, integrity, virtue and tenn
perance, in the name of good citizen
ship, that when you vote here on the
motion of the gentleman from Brooks
TO substitute the minority report, that
you vote no. (ApplauseD
Mr.. MILLIkEN Of Island Falls-Mr.
Speaker, l wish to say in regard to
the suggestion that it is made impossi-
bic to investigate the State liquor COM
missioner or any other department,
that l think that statement is hardly
within the fact. Under the general or
der passed by this House sometime ago
special committee has full authority
and is perfectly willing and ready and
has been to give full and complete
and thorough, public investigation of
any State official on the suggestion or
criticism Of any member of this House
Or any other citizen Of the State that
the official acts Of that gentleman
should be called in question
Now, as to the main proposition l
confess that | am not entirely clear as
to what | as a temperance man ought
to do l represent Il section of the
State which is as strong and | believe
stronger in its temperance sentiment,
than any other section of this State
We have no liquor agencies in that
section. | desire to do in this matter
whatever is really for the best inter-
asts of the temperance cause in this
STATE. | am 50 far unable to bring my
self to the position of the majority Of
the members of this committee. | am
slow to take a position alongside the
gentleman from Auburn for more rum
md at cheaper price. If that is what
this proposition means then | do not
favor it. | am slow To believe that in
order to get rid of the troubles in con-
lection with the administration Of the
liquor agencies Of the State We ought
IS temperance men to abolish this
whole agency system. l condemn as
strongly as any man could possibly
condemn the evils which have been
suggested in connection with this sys-
ccm. 1t may BE- that the only rcmcuy
i to abolish the whole thing. but am
The interests Of temperance because
find that many of the friends of this
proposition are also among those who
believe. no doubt sincerely and honest
", that the prOhibitory law should
not remain upon our statute books. |
believe that the present law is needed
provide proper and q lawful means
IF securing liquor for legitimate pur-
poses. | cannot resist the impression
nat this important question ought not
be voted upon at this time and fin
lily decided at this time when there
tre 50 few members present; ana |
could scuggest to those III charge Of
he measure whether ii would not be
dVisable to leave the matter until a
ull attendance can be had.
Mr.. LIBBY of Amity-Mr. Speaker. I
I'M member Of the temperance COM
nlttec of this House and signed the
minority report. | wish to say that I
an a temperance man and / believe in
the enforcement of the temperance law.
The gentleman from Augusta asks
where the people of Aroostook get their
liquors. | wish to say to the gentleman
that | have lived in the county of
OD''NDosN years
| never got any liquor. CApplause> n
nave raised a family Of six children
and never has one of those children
ever received from his father one drou
Of Intoxicating liquor. They do not uso
them in any way. But l do believe
that there are people. when it is need
ful perhaps, that should have some
place in this State where liquors can
DC procured in legal manner; and that
IS the reason why signed tho minority
report. DO not believe in the linuor
agencies in the way they are carried on
at The present time; but | do believe
ana as bad as they are that they are
thousand times better than The
condition which the gentleman from All
susta would have prevail in this Stat,
'hat there should be free rum in evcrv
town IN our county in the place of thesa
liquor agencies
MI NEWBERT-My record IL nrot+,,
rad on the rum gu astion, but | thinl,
never said that.