Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-04-04
Do Llouor Men Favor Prohibition


Strange rs It may seem, there are some
p, ople who appear to honestly believe
that the liqnor fraternity IL not anxious
| to overthrow the Prohibitory Law OF
Maine. The following statemen. Is Ger
tainly a strong item Of proof that the
| Iiql0r associations will do everything
within their power for the defeat OF
Names Pr0hibitory Law:
A prominent Maine man, Republican
who believed In resubmission, was 'raveI-
ing in the Svu,h few weeks after the
state election. On the train he fell into
conversation with q fine appearing man
who sat with him. Upon learning be
was Maine man the stranger immediate
| ~ asked II he believed In resubmission.
The Maine man said he did, and the
other, much pleased at this, proceeded
70 disclose to him that be was the presi.
dent of State Brewers Association and
that It was the plan OF the liquor men to
40 thorough work In Maine II the Legis-
Iature granted re ubmissiop. "Be-
Cause" said he, "Maine 10 the key state,
and " We can overthrow prohibition
there We shall have no trouble with other
states" He said the liquor dealers
associations would put man In every
place with abundant money to buy every
vote that could be bought for license
law, and on election day they would hire
the most reputable man in the place to
carry voters to the polls, putting from
$3.50 to $500 10 every place for this pur-
pose. He said his association was ready
to put one million dollars into this work
and he knew other liquor associations
would do the same.
Listening to these plans to corrupt his
state, the Maine man lost his ardor for
resu omission, and came home "strong
anti-resu bmissionist."
Here is another piece of testimony on
this same point, that is absolut ely direct
and authentic. II IL from B0nforts
Wine and Spirit Circular for Feb. %,
1911. In view of the oft-reiterated asser-
ton that the liquor dealers prefer pro-
hibition to license, the obvious inquiry
is, why, If that is the fact, do they so
insistently profess the contrary Bon
forts Wine and Spirit Circular says:
"The trade In this section is very
much interested In the fact that Maine
is to vote on the repeal of prohibition in
September, because IL 10 thought that
the overthrow of prohibition in Maine
would have q tremendous moral effect
throughout tie country, as it wonld be
conclusive evidence to the press and to
large part of the people that II Maine
could MOI enforce prohibition after seven
ty years of trial 1t would be useless for
any other state to attempt 1t.
at seems to US that this fight In
Maine offers tremendous possibilities to
tue trade, and they should not be neg
lected. The campaign In that state
should be conducted on the very highest
plane, and the character of regulation
offered as a substitute for prohibition
should be of such nature as to appeal
to all men of common sense.
"If tho people of Maine are simply
promised open saloons in the place of
the present prohibitory law, a majority
Is likely to reject the proposition, but If
the people are offered model saloons
that Is, saloons under law that will
compel them to be conducted properly,
then the chances are that the amend
ment will be repealed by good ma.
iority."