The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-04-08

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that no more of the Crum cases need be
looked for. Since the expected appoint
ment of white Collector of Customs at
Charleston there has been most agree
able change in the tone of the Southern
press.
Mr.. Taft did many things and said many
things while here that will render him
and his administration rather more popu-
lar south of ''the line" than that of any
President since the war. He aims to es-
tablish Republican party of the white
people that will have power for good
and be able to carry at least two or three
States for the next Republican ticket.
The view of those having the most COM
plete understanding Of the situation in
the South is that the race feeling is so
strong yet this can only be done by some
action that will drive the colored voters
bodily into the Democratic party. 1t
seems most reasonable to assume, look
ing at all facts and conditions as they
appear today, that the ''solid South" will
remain solid for the next quarter of a
century at least, unless something hap
pens of nature entirely unlocked for.
The president while here mingled with
people in social way, making many
friends. saw photograph in a local
studio, recently, of Mr.. Taft in the centre
OF the graduating class Of the Girl High
School, the young ladies in their new, up
to-date gowns, and the taft smile''
overspreading the scene. One can readily
see that the papas and mammas Of these
young people will be Taft admirers, first,
last and all the time.
Georgia has been prohibition State
more than a year. But so high and so
swiftly is this wave running that
several others of the Southern States
have since joined the prohibition force and
two or three States are right on the verge.
The opinion here seems to be that the
operation of the law in the State at large
is most satisfactory, and is proving all the
projectors and friends anticipated. Any
law where powerful minority is in ac-
tive opposition, aided by cash contribu-
lions from one of the most strongly-in-
trenched trusts, can receive only partial
enforcement, as we know from long
experience. But, knowing this to be
true, why should the majority lay down
their arms and give way to high, low or
any other variety of license? The States
in this section are much more strongly
inclined to prohibition than Maine or
many other of the northern States. In
several instances strong anti-liquor laws
have been vetoed by the governors, only
to be passed with rush over the veto.
There seems to be general belief that
prohibitory law, although but partial
relief from the traffic in alcohol, is a
start in the right direction, and if persist
ed in will be the means of doing great
good to the worthiest and best of the
young men of State. 1t goes without
saying that the most vicious and degrad-
ed in any community, of any State will
procure liquor, or morphine or opium, as
wanted, to assist in their downfall, under
whatever form of law they live l think
we can all remember, especially in the
earlier days of prohibition in Maine, the
efforts of our friends the barkeepers on
our good old Main street to furnish the
required booze when wanted, and with no
far no oA1 &c
law could discern, of any rum within
thousand miles. Since the "dry" law
went into effect in this State the in
genuity of the human mind has prov
ed to be not a product of the North
alone. When prohibition first went
into execution in Georgia, about year
ago, certain hotel in one of the
cities became very popular among travel
ing men. When one wanted a drink all
he had to do was to ring for boy and
give the order. The authorities knew
that whiskey was being sold in the build
ing, but could never catch the guilty
parties. Search after search had been
made and no liquor was discovered. On
one occasion porter of the house had
been caught stealing and was up before
the judge. He promised that he would
tell all about the whiskey business if he
was turned loose. This is how the trick
was done. The hotel had a gas system
Installed that had long been out of use.
In one of the small rooms overhead
portion of the wall had been removed, a
barrel set behind it, gas pipe inserted
in the bung-hole, and the wall replaced.
When one wanted whiskey all to be done
was to turn on the gas and draw as
much as required.
Another unique scheme that was used
by moonshiner just across the Caro-
lima. line was discovered by a revenue Of
ficer only few days ago. The officer,
who was disguised, stopped at a farm
house where he felt that whiskey was
being made, and called for some. At
first the old mountaineer was bit shy and
looked upon the stranger with suspicion;
but soon he got pitcher, told the stranger