The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-04


people had learned from 40 or more years
of attempted enforcement that although
in violation of the constitution and stat
utes of their state, although it was prac-
teal notification of law, still, inasmuch
as the difficulties attending the repeal of
the constitutional amendment were for
political reasons insurmountable, and tho
lmpossibility of legislating people into
being temperate had been demonstrated
beyond question, that they must choose
the lesser evil.
-Four years ago Maine felt the influence
of the so-called prohibition wave whicn
swept the country. The enactment of the
above-named special enforcement law
was the result. Now again, with all thu
other cities In Maine Bangor is suffering
from all the evils of the "blnd tiger
the 'cALol cs s3oaa. al III tGssr
attendant Yiciousness and terrible re-
suits.
Under New Conditions.
The saloons are all there, their number
has not diminished, liquor Is sold and
consumed as ever. but under changed
and different conditions
NO liquors are displayed, no glasses
line the shelves, and no bartenders with
white coats are behind the bar. The
place looks dirty and unkept, but bust
ness Is done In this place notwithstand-
ing.
At the door or on the sidewalk stands
the lookout. Day and night he is on the
watch to give the word to those inside
OF the approach of the officers. and Re
does 1t, too. Inside Is the bartender,
so-called, and in front of the bar some
where in the crowd, is the pottle-holder.
When customer enters the place he
states his desire to the bartender, who
winks at the bottle-holder, and from the
latt9rg fe
alleged whisky and a glass, and these
are the stock and fixtures of the estab-
hshment Yet the amount of whisky
solo IN a days time is surprising to tho
uniformed, and 1t is beyond question the
deadliest concoction ever sold over a bar
heard wholesale dealer in Bangor.
say on one occasion that he didn't want
10 buy whisky that cost him over Is
cents per gallon. OF course. It is need
less to say that the above brand had
never seen distillery
Inc above is a fair picture of the aver
age saloon here during an enforcement
wave OF course. there are a few places
where better liquor is sold, and the clubs
are supplied with good liquors at all
times, but the average drinker must visit
the average enforcement saloon.
The result is that whereas before the
strict enforcement period a man could
get his glass or two of beer the drink
OF the laboringman of our cities, and go
away sober and satisfied, now he must
drink the stuff called whisky and two or
more drinks will finish him, sometimes
less.
Police Records.
The police records for drunkenness
tell the story. l am informed 300 arrests
were made in Bangor the past u months
for drunkenness
Beer and other malt liquors are so bulky
that they cannot be safely kept They
cannot be spilled quickly enough in case
or the ever-expected-s eareh of the Of
ncers, and, too, cannot be successfully
concealed as a bottle of sprituous liquor
in mans pocket.
Then, too, the extra expense of MAIN
tanning the establishment, the lookout,
the bottle-holder and others must be met
Dy the sale of an article yielding enor-
NOUS profits. l am informed the express
companies In Maine are another result
of the prohibition law
Every wholesale liquor dealer now has
ms Incorporated express company"
which works on this plan. Liquors arc
shipped via the express company into
the state in the name of fictitious per-
sons and are held In the express office
IN Maine an indefinite time, which is In
TACT till the wholesale dealer has an or
der for liquor which he promptly fills
from any convenient package
Nevertheless under the interstate COM
merce law these liquors are held to be
in transit until delivered to the con-
signee, and consequently not liable to
seizure by state officers.
II Alabama is not yet convinced that
prohibitions does not prohibit she
should continue her statutory laws upon
her books until she is so satisfied To
incorporate prohibiting amendment In
her constitution will be to put herself in
the position that Maine now finds herself
in-that of being sick and tired of the
law, convinced of its utter inability :.
stop the traffic in liquor, but still power
less to remedy the situation.
Heavy Tax Burden.
The enforcement commission referred
to, as L understand it, is known as the
"Sturgis law and composed of three
men. They appoint their deputies in all
the counties and cities, and their power
is supreme. They pay no attention 10
the sheriffs or other officers of the law.
They make raids when they please COM
init all kinds of depredations and destroy
property, and they are not held respon-
sible for anything they do They ara
paid by the counties, and last year they
cost the counties $4,000. There are b1t
is counties in this state, against Ala
bama's 65.
The counties are now rebelling against
what seems to be useless tax, and quite
a few. l understand, refused to pay their
last months tax and will appeal to the
courts for redress. Bear in mind that |
am not writing in the interests of or at
the suggestion of anyone; | came to
Maine for pleasure, but l had heard so
much of prohibition conditions here that
l thought l would investigate for my
own satisfaction, and il you think It
would interest your readers, you are at
liberty to print 1t.
liberty to print it. w. B. LEEDY.
Bangor, Maine. September %, 1909.