The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-08-26
$4,000 FOR ONE DRINK
It Might Cost That in Maine,
But 1t Doesn't.
RIGOROUS PROHIBITION LAWS
But They Are Not Rigidly Enforced.
After Fifty Years trial People of
the State Haven't Made Up Their
Minds About 1t.


the State Haven't Made Up Their
Minds About 1t.
In Maine a single drink-and one
If poor whiskey at that-may cost
$4,000. 1t isn't SO expensive to buy
es to sell. The penalties which have
been piled up by the lawmakers for
that read like a modern Inquisition
For selling a single drink a man
could be indicted on ground of search
and seizure, common seller, nui-
sance, drinking house, and tipping
shop, and could be fined $4,000 or
$4,000 and kept in jail for years.
But in spite of the most rigorous
prohibition laws in the country there
IS a good deal of questions as to
Names real prohibition position.
That the laws are constantly evaded
is a matter of common knowledge
Their existence on the statute books
has bred many queer incidents in
their evasion. One effect has been
10 bring into existence a form of in
t0yication peculiar to Maine which
is commonly called the ''jaky
drunk 1t is most frequently met
IN rural districts, where various in
toxicating medicines are sold, and
as the name implies it results from
copious consumption of fiery Jamai-
ca ginger.
A Maine man, Holman Day, who
has observed the working OF the laws
for the past twenty years, confesses
in the August number of Appleton s
Magazine that these laws have be-
come wholly political, and have no
longer a moral bearing Summing
up the matter he asserts that the re-
suits of recent political campaigns
have shown that the folks Of Maine
wanted prohibition, but didn't want
il enforced"
How true this opinion is has been
evidenced by the continuity with
which the prohibition laws have been
Kept on the statute books, and even
made more stringent while at the
same time all sorts of means of evad-
ing them were openly tolerated
Maine, for Instance, has developed a
rapid transit system so rapid that it
can transport a case of liquor from
boStOn to- the home Of the thirsty
Maine man in half an hour
Numerous sO-Called express com
lanles which have sprung up in vari-
GUS parts Of the state, primarily for
Inc purpose of expressing liquor from
boston to Maine points whenever it
might be ordered, have now reached
me point of keeping a stock of wet
goods on hand. A customer order
ing a case of beer, for example, is
Immediately supplied from the stock
On hand, his order being used simply
10 Keep the supply up.
IN various cities the Bangor plan
IS followed. A certain number of
PAGES are allowed by the officials to
dispense liquor. Twice a year the
pIopIletOrS are arrested and fined
.ue amount with costs added being
9IlV. This really amounts to moth
lug more than a conveniently low
Incense. Like all good things. how
EYER inns was carried too far, as Mr.
DAY points out.
After the Bangor plan got start
~, ne says, doing its snug little
BUSINESS all over Maine, the sheriffs
III number of counties over
11eached and made it bit too snug.
~ IN some counties, with his profits
IRON the board of prisoners, his fees,
a anu MS side business the sheriff
cleaned up from $4,000 to $4,000
war year. which is pretty good for rural
l ~ n The salary of the governor
OF the state is $4,000!
Tho 9ndroscoggin county, containing
me- rrg second largest city in the state,
10Lu'nated and elected a Methodist