The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-16
CURRENTCOMMENT
The Result In Maine.

Inc result or the election in Maine yester-
daS to remove from the constitution of the
State the provision prohibiting the manufac-
ture and sale Of intoxicating liquors here proved
to be d surprise all round. The friends OF
prohibition were disappointed in two essential
particulars: the size of the vote for license in
the cities and the stay t-home vote in the
FuFaI districts one more mo" vote In each
town in the State would have more than wiped
out the majority which the liquor people seem
ed on the face OF the returns received last
night to have achieved The victory such as
II was, must also prove disappointing and en-
barrassing to the saloon element Confidently
expecting majority of 1900 or 20 900 an
expression by the people favorable to their
cause that they could go ahead with the plans
that have been made for the repeal of the
prohioitory law and the enactment of some
Kind of license law they find themselves
confronted by prohibition sentiment compris-
ing mahHestly majority of the voters of the
fS'ate, Tor they understand that their full vote
was registered yesterday, and that a very large
percentage of the stay al home voters wouId
have voted no" had they come to the polls
This View OF the situation makes 1t clear that
the prohibition sentiment in the State of Maine
is stronger than either OF the great politi-
cal parties in the State.
For 1t necessary for the friends of pro-
hipition to begin at the beginning and
stfuCt an organization Of its own to combat
the license sentiment. The making of such an
/ organization was monumental task, and il
impossible to get the State fully organized
under II In the short time that there was be-
tween the date of the passage Of the resu bu1is-
sion resolve and the election This fact ac-
the rural districts.
The friends OF the prohibition system have
had the active and unqualified opposition of
the Democratic political machine. headed by
the Governor Of the State himself and his At
torney General Leading Democratic peti-
clans have traVersed the State, In personal in
terviews urging members Of their political par
ty In the name OF politics. to stand by for the
repeal Of the constitutional amendment. and
promising long years of Democratic ascend
ency IN tbs State Of Maine If the yes vote
| won out IN yesterdays contest,
| This. In spite Of the fact that the last Dem
ocratic platform silent the question OF
prohibition itself, and Governor Plaisted
pcatedly declared from the public platform that
the issue had nothing to do with the question
! Of license and prohibition 1t only had to do
with the resubmisson to the people In view
! Of the silence OF the platform and the declara-
ton OF the Governor the Democratic party was
/ In honor bound To keep the political question
out Of the contest,
Significant. too, IN the light Of all the in
/ formation which have upon the subject. Ia
the fact that Immediately following the first
Iunguarded visit Of the manager of the organi-
cation bureau of the United States Brewers
Association certain Republican politicians unit
ed with the Democratic machine in the effort
10 secure the repeal of the constitutional amend
nent--Porlahd Express and Advertiser.