The Republican journal., 1911-02-09
TEMPERANCE DAY.

TEMPERANCE DAY.
An Exciting Time at the Resubmission
Hearing.
Associated Press Despatch.l
AUGUSTA, February l. Put him out!
Put him out! Put him out! roared. a
thousand Democratic threats in the Hall
of Representatives Wednesday afternoon
when Frank w. Gowen of Waterville had
abused and reviled the Democratic party
until the men of that faith could stand it
no longer and Maine was nearer the dis
grace of a personal encounter on the floor
Of that hall than it has been before in
two generations. Senators and Repre-
sentatives started from their seats and
strobe forward with fists clenched and
faces flushed. Senator Staples was call
ing for an apology, but could not make
himself heard above the roar. Senator
Kellogg was trembling with Indignation
and with difficulty refraining from ad-
ministering corporal punishment to the
offender. A dozen others rushed forward
and for moment riot seemed immi-
nent.
Senator Boynton, chairman of the COM
mittee on temperance, was pounding fu-
tilely with his gavel. Voices in all parts
of the hall were yelling for recognition,
but Henry Hudson of Guilford, a veteran
lawyer and orator, finally made himself
heard above all the rest by crowding in
front of the presiding officer, and was
recognized. The moment he faced the
excited assemblage, and began to shout
his views, seats were resumed, other
voices stilled and in ten seconds he had
the attention Of everyone.
The most exciting incident in the his
tory of the many fights to take the Maine
Prohibitory law out of the constitution
was closed.
outbreak, later made an apology to the
declared that in reviling the Democratic
party he had expressed the sentiments
expressed elsewhere by prominent Re
publcans At the close of the hearing
reporters demanded to know what promi-
nent Republican he had heard call the
Democratic party ''dirty rum party"
and he named one of the most prominent
Republicans in this State, but begged
that the name be withheld. Asked if he
represented the Good Templars, he re-
piled that he had gone to Europe as their
representative. Pressed to state whether
or not he represented them at the hear
ing, he replied that he represented no
one except himself.
The hearing opened at two O'Clock with
the hall packed so full of human beings
that it did not seem possible that another
could gain admittance. Even the corri
doris about the doors were filled. Senator
Staples of Knox was in his element. At
ter the long years of Intellectual effort to
get favorable report on his pet meas
ure, the resubmission of the prohibitory
amendment, his fond hopes were about
to be realized. A chair and table for his
use were placed in the only open space in
the hall, in front of the speakers desk
and in front of the people.
Senator Staples opened the hearing for
the proponents of the resolve and was
the only speaker. He covered the matter
briefly, saying that he believed there was
demand from the best temperance ele-
ment in the State for an opportunity to
vote upon the question. He declared that
nine enths of the saloon men to be in
favor of the prohibitory law.
Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, president of
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union opened the case for the opposi-
ton. She declared that no law so effec-
lively protects the home against the
home greatest enemy as does the pro-
hibitory law. ''The wonder is" she
said, that any locality should, for a
money consideration, consider for a
moment permitting within the State the
cause Of 35 per cent. of the insanity, As
per cent. of the idiocy, so per cent. of
the poverty and 80 per cent of the crime
of this country
Mrs. Stevens spoke about ten minutes
and made a stirring plea for the reten-
ton of the prohibitory law. She was
frequently interrupted by applause from
the many enthusiastic members of the
W. c. I. U. and other temperance Or
CARNATIONS who were present.
W. I. U. Runnells Of Searsport said he
was glad he had come to the hearing be-
cause he had found out that the real pur-
pose of resubmission was resubmission.
He made ringing speech to the as
sembled people in which he took the
ground that it would be harder to enforce
stringent local option laws than it is to
enforce law under State wide prohibi-
ton. Hew of the opinion that women
should be given the right to vote on the
question. The speaker gave particular
dtCcllllol W OeLdLOF OIdpleS. he u0lu
up long list of cases which he said had
been mol pressed and pointed out that
one of the evils Of non enforcement were
traceable to this source.
"The present governor never could
have been elected, never been elected"
he shouted, eff Republican officers had
done their duty" He said, it would be
wrong to touch the prohibitory law, for it
is not the fault of the laws but is the
fault of such scamps.
j. r. Libby Of Portland, a merchant,
announced that he was opposed to resub-
mission and that he was in favor of TAX
ing the question out of politics, but
oidn't think that it could be taken out of
politics until the saloon is annihilated.
81 am in favor of local option but l
want to have something to say about the
unit. l believe that in Maine the whole
State is small enough. In States where
they do not have State wide prohibition,
local option for towns or counties is all
right. But in this State of Maine, where
we have Statewide prohibition, local
option would be step backward.
Il think the last election deceived
some of our friends. The last cam
paign was fought on the financial ISSUE
That and the general unrest placed you
Democrats here" he said. parties
are not placed in power for what they
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