The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-12-08
WIN They Do It?
Democrats Said to be Planning to Make
Maine the ''Drest" Ever.

Democrats Said to be Planning to Make
Maine the "Ddest' Ever,
NEWPORT. Me-, November %. It is
expected that few days after Colonel
Frederick W. Plaisted takes his oath Of
Office as Governor January LIST, an order
will be issued from Augusta that every
sheriff in Maine strictly and impartially
enforce the laws against the sale of in.
toxicatinp liquors. That it is the plan OF
the powers-th in the Democratic
party is said to be fact by persons high
IN 1ne party councils,
OF the counties in Maine and Democrat
IN the Governors chair for the first time
IN ~ years, the party will see it it il
possible to have real enforcement OF the
prohibitory law.
The Democrats in their campaign
charged the Republicans with not i'm.
partially enforcing the liquor laws anc
promised that if elected their aim would
be to enforce all laws and the prohibitory
law IN particular.
A meeting of the State Democratic
committee was held last week in Au
gusta, at which Governor-elect Plaistec
was present. 1t is said, upon excellent
authority, that the question of enforcing
the liquor laws was one of the important
matters considered. 1t is also said that
the State committeeman, without excep.
ton, favored real enforcement and were
heartily in favor of any plan that woulG
make Maine drier than ever.
EXPECT TO KILL STURGIS LAW.
1t is expected the sheriffs of the IL
counties will be called together soon
after Colonel Plaisted takes his seat and
the situation will be canvassed. They
will be given explicit orders to see that
no liquors are sold in their respective
counties and will have the assurance
that the leaders of the party will stand
respect.
With the death of the Sturgis law,
which is expected to occur early at the
coming session of the legislature, the
sheriffs will have everything in their
own hands. Several of the Democratic
sheriffs-elect have said openly that they
will enforce the law to the letter if il
takes the last cent in the county treas
urles to pay the costs.
People prominent in the Democracy
also hint that the hotel men will be call
ed into headquarters and the situation
explained. They will be asked to refrain
from dealing in intoxicants and to give
their assistance in making Maine really
"dry." Several well-known hotel men
have declared that they will quit the liquor
business January LIST and will give all as
sistance to officers in enforcing the law
Others, who have been directly or in
directly interested in the liquor business
are said to be in favor Of giving the
voters of Maine real taste of rea
Statewide enforcement and of making
every county absolutely dry.
1t is expected, that barring any un
foreseen complications, the sixth amend
ment to the constitution, which is tn,
famous clause making constitutions
prohibition in this State, will be resub
mitted to popular vote by the incoming
legislature. The Democratic platform!
for years have contained a plank favor
ing resubmission and this has been the
keynote of many campaigns. Now tina
the party is in power this is certain t,
be done.
CLUBS TO JOIN IN CAMPAIGN.
The special election at which the vot
ers will cast their ballots either for O
against constitutional prohibition, will
probably not be held before September
1911, and from January 1st to the date O
the election, the Democrats plan to max,
Maine just as dry as it is possible t.
make it in order that the voters may Sc
just how real enforced prohibition works
1t is said that this plan also meets wit
the appreciation of the officers of tn
clubs in many Of the cities where it i
has been customary to maintain buffet
where liquors might be obtained. These
it is expected, will all be closed tight.
Some of the hotels where it has bee
customary to dispense liquors to guest
and where the revenue was large par
of the hotels earnings WILL it is said, b
closed and the proprietors will take
vacation of several months. 1t is eS
pected the Democrats will have NOR
hearty cooperation from all sources i
their efforts to make Maine more ''dry
than has ever been seen in all of tn
States long experience with prohibition
Some aver that if Maine was give
real enforcement for six months the re
suit of the vote would be overwhelming
ly for local option system. Others sa
real enforcement would be popular an
that it would greatly strengthen the pre-
hibitory law.
1t can be safely predicted, however
that those who had expected cope
times" under the Democratic admin.
tration will be greatly surprised at tn
turn affairs will take after the me-
officials step into power.