The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-03-18
Nearly Three Centuries
OF Temperance Agitation and Legislation
in Maine-l636-19O9.
BY FRANK w. GOWEN.

spring of 1875 Mr.. George E. Bracket
of Belfast was elected Grand Secretary
and he served the Grand Lodge in this
capacity something over thirty years,
and at the time he retired from this
office two years ago was the Oldest
Grand Secretary in point of service in
the world. Bro Bracket was one of the
ablest and most popular Grand Secre-
taries the order has ever had in Maine,
and his name is widely known and hon
ored. For many years he has published
the Maine Temperance Record, and in
all his noble work for our order and the
cause of temperance he has been ably
assisted by his wife.
In 1881 Hon. T. R. Simonton Of Cam
den was elected Grand Chief Templar,
and as he was an able speaker his SER
vices were in much demand throughout
the State in addressing public meetings
in the interest of the order. Then came
Mr.. B. c. Torsey of Winthrop, who made
very excellent officer. He was also
most interesting speaker and welded an
original and ready pen. Following him
came Rev. H. c. Munson, valiant work
er and probably one of the most eloquent
temperance orators of his day in Maine.
1t was during his term as Grand Chief
Templar Gin 1884 that the famous con-
stitutional amendment campaign took
place. and to the Maine Good Templars,
then the most powerful temperance or
ganization in the State and the third or
fourth largest Grand Lodge in the world,
and to the w. C. T. u, is due in large
measure the glorious success in securing
the unusually large vote for this amend
ment.
AS the campaign for the adoption of
constitutional prohibition was one of the
most important as well as exciting ever
held on our soil l desire at this time to
give brief history of the contest. In
the State campaign of 1882 the Republi-
can party reaffirmed in their State plat
form their faith in prohibition, and rec
commended that the people be given an
opportunity to express Their opinion on
constitutional prohibition at the polls.
The Republicans nominated Hon. Fred
erick Robe for Governor and the Demo-
Gratis or Fusionists Governor Harris M
Plaisted. Hon. Scion Chase, who was
a prominent Good Templar and State
Deputy of the order, was the Greenback
candidate, and Col VIM. 7. Eustis the
Prohibition candidate, while Hon. War
rem H. Vinton was the Independent Re-
publican nominee.
Mr.. Robbie was elected, receiving
large vote, and in his message to the
legislature during the winter Of 1883 he
said, among other things:
''The successful party at the recent
election affirmed the principles of prohi-
bition in its resolutions, and also recon-
mended that the people of our State be
allowed the opportunity of expressing an
opinion at the polls on constitutional
amendment, which, if adopted, will make
prohibition a part of the organic law OF
the State. Kansas and Iowa, by vote
of the people, have Incorporated prohi
bition into their respective constitutions,
and very active agitation is now in
progress in many other States to the
same end. The right of the people to
determine for themselves what is most
conducive to their interests is in accord
with the theory of popular government
Furthermore. constitutional prohi-
bition would have the effect of keeping
the question, to considerable extent, if
not entirely, out Of party politics. In
view of these facts, the Legislature will
be called upon by petition and otherwise,
as it has already been asked by the voice
of the sovereign people, to submit to
them the determination Of this question.
1t Is your province to consider this re-
quest and whatever may be the final
result, let the voice of the people be the
law of the land, -"
Early in the legislative session Hon.
Hosea B. Eaton of Camden presented
the following resolve:
Resolve: Providing for an amendment
of the constitution forever prohibiting
the manufacture of Intoxicating liquors,
and prohibiting their sale except for me-
dicinal and mechanical purposes, and the
arts"
The resolve was carried in the House
by vote Of 104 to 81. In looking over
the list of names of those who voted yea
on this resolve find such prominent men
as Hon. Pascal P Gilmore, our present
State Treasurer, who was a member of
the legislature, as well as Judge Oliver
G. Hall, Hon. Herbert M. Heath of Au-
gusta, Judge Albert M. Spear of Gardi-
ner, Hon. Parker Spofford of Bucksport,
Hon. Wallace H. White of Lewiston
which was the only city in the State to
vote against the amendment. Among
those who voted nay were Hon. Charles
E. Allen of Cedar Grove, Dresden, we'll
known as an able writer and who ran for
Congress in the Second Congressional
District against Hon. Nelson Dingley,
and later against Hon. Charles E. Little
field. Mr.. Allen probably has one of the
largest individual libraries of any private
citizen in Maine and have spent many
happy hours with him and his wife at his
home overlooking the beautiful Kenne-
bee We also find the names of the late
Hon. Nathaniel Meader of Waterville.