Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-14
John A. Nichols Of The
Automobile Party
Tells OF The Conditions Found
By Him in Maine.
Big Seizures al Portland and Bidde.
ford-.An Am. Express Order.

Boston, Aug. 13--The Post toda,
says:
We found 1t an easy matter to OBJ
tain both beer and whiskey in almost
any quantity almost anywhere II
Maine. In spite of this fact we firmly
believe in the policy of prohibition IN
the State. Strict enforcement of the
law by officials elected for that pur-
pose would demonstrate to the world
that prohibition is a success John
A. Nichols secretary of the Twentieth
Century Pledge Signing Club. and one
of the most prominent Prohibitionists
in the country.
Mr.. Nichols had just returned from
an 18-day automobile tour of investi-
cation through the larger cities ant
towns of the prohibition State. Ac-
companying Mr.. Nichols were ]. B
Lewis, president of the Twentieth
Century Pledge Signing Club and Mrs
Katherine Lente Stevenson, Statt
president of the National w. c. T. u
for Massachusetts,.
Referring further to conditions
throughout the State Secretary Mich
oils said:
From reports received we expected
to find wide open saloons in the larger
cities and towns of the State. we
found that to be an exaggeration, out
on the other hand what we did hna
was most astonishing. 1t seems al
most impossible that such a condition
of affairs could exist in this civilized
day.
"Our investigations proved that
there was scarcely a large town OF
city in the State where liquor could
not be obtained by anyone who Wish
ed TO do So Myself and associates
were all strangers, yet in many in
stances we found it an easy matter
to locate places where we could OBJ
tain beer and whiskey in almost any
quantity.
For instance, while in Portland l
had heard that it was possible to get
anything / wanted to drink at the
hotel. After dinner that evening l set
out to investigate this report for my
self. After mingling with the crowd
in front of the hotel l finally picked
out three young men who looked as
If they were thirsty and knew where
10 uuGElGH IL. MY vas 49, 49,
When the young men disappeared in
a basement door | followed, and after
pursuing devious course through the
dark cellar finally came to what had
evidently at one time been coal bin.
Nov it was full tledged bar with
all of the various liquors in plain
sight along with ingredients for mix
ing drinks, etc. The bar itself was a
temporary affair and could be re-
moved very easily. a number of 9th
ers besides the young men with whom
I entered were drinking there.
I'm Pittsfeld / inquired of the land
lord of the hotel where we were stop
ping if could obtain a cocktail before
supper. He looked me over and with
wink said: Nix on the cocktail;
however, follow me-" l did so and
was taken to a little room off the
lobby. In this room fitted into the
wall was sort OF cabinet something
resembling medicine chest.
1.-THE hotel man with key unlocked
the door of the cabinet and there on a
little shelf reposed a quart bottle of a
well-known and popular brand of whis-
key and a glass. | was Informed that
for a quarter l could go as far as |
liked declined. explaining that | could
not drink plain whiskey. but wanted a
cocktail. No fancy drinks here replied
the landlord.
In Lewiston we went all through the
French quarter there, and while there
was no open sale of liquor, there were a
number of so-cailed Kitchen barrooms'
These Kitchen barrooms' are not con-
fined to Lewiston alone. The State is
fairly honeycombed with them. The bar
rooms of course are not real barrooms.
but the kitchens of ordinary dwelling
houses in the tougher sections of the
various cities and towns. Full directions
as to their location can usually be OBJ
tanned from the hotels in the town or
city or from almost any cigar store.
The entire trip was made in an automo-
bile belonging to Mr.. Lewis and operated
by the latters chauffeur. Accompanying
the investigators was cornetist who
was used in the meetings held in the va
rious towns. In many of the places
where the party stopped they were assist
ed by the local band.
The itinerary for the Investigators was
laid out by the local branch of the Ma
tional w. C. T. T.. but the entire expense
of the trip was paid by Messrs Lewis
and Nichols.
Mrs. Stevenson, the lady member of the
party, was induced to give up her vaca-
ton in order to accompany the investi-
gators. She took a full part in the in
vestigation. doing her share in the va
rious evidence obtaining sorties.
A Big Seizure at Biddeford.