The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-08-03

Hear the rally cry!
Prohibition Prohibition
Victory is nigh!
CHORUS.
Hallelujah Prohibition!
Hear the rally cry
Hallelujah Hallelujah!
Victory is nigh!
Rev. M. S. Hill, pastor of the Methodist
church offered prayer. Mr. Frost spoke briefly
and introduced Major J. B. Lewis as the first
speaker and chairman. In opening his re-
marks Major Lewis said that since coming to
Belfast he had heard it said that the liquor
dealers and brewers were paying the expenses
of this auto party-which of course is untrue
and utterly absurd-an assertion which hardly
needed the serious refutation he gave it.
Major Lewis is a veteran of the Civil War and
he paid handsome tribute to the Maine men
who had fought for their country in that great
conflict. He said that no Maine regiment had
lost its colors in that war, distinction enjoy Ell
by no other State. Of the conditions brought
about by the liquor traffic he was thoroughly
informed by reason of his connection with mis-
sion work in Boston. He told of his visits to
the reformatories and penal institutions in
Massachusetts,, and of heart to heart talks with
inmates in their cells and said that a very
large majority, from youths of tender age to
the gray haired and decrepid, attributed their
downfall to the drink evil. His story of the
murder of Mrs. Kilroy in cold blood by her
drunken husband was SO vividly presented as
to bring tears to the eyes of many, and yet it
is but one of many similar crimes inspired by
the demon, Rum. In fervent appeal to the
voters of Maine to stand by the prohibitory
law Majo Lewis said: Don't we owe it to our
boys to make it hard for them to do wrong
and easy for them to do right
Mr.. Reid, who fairly bubbles over with mu-
sic and enthusiasm, was then called upon ard
gave an original song "If Fellow meet Fell
low written for this campaign.
The next speaker was Mrs. Katherine Lente
Stevenson, president of the Massachusetts, W.
c. 7. u, who recently returned from tou.
around the world in the interest of the tenn
perance cause and who spoke from full
knowledge of the conditions in this anG other
countries She is very pleasing and effective
speaker, and her expose OF high license meth
DDS was humorous, caustic and Illuminating.
"They say that Massachusetts has the best
local option law in the country; if that is so,
God help the worst!' exclaimed Mrs. Steven
son. She then discussed several fallacies
which are the pet argument o. the saloon in
terests, one of them being the claim that less
liquor would be sold under the license system
than under the prohibitory law I'm my
State" said Mrs. Stevenson, "the minimum Ii
cense fee is $1,000. Is the man who pays that
sum going to take less interest in his business,
or will he do all the business he can to Offset
that premium? l will leave it to your judg-
ment."
Prof John A. Nichols of Boston, who was
introduced as a cyclopedia of statistics, prov
ed also to be very able, eloquent and con-
vincing speaker. He said that the Massa-
chusetts license law was a fraud, humbug and
failure, and submitted statistics and gave illus
trations which fully substantiated that sweep
ing assertion. In the first place the Massa-
chusetts license law requires that the holders
of licenses shall be men of good moral charac-
ter. Is that true of all the men engaged in
the liquor traffic in Massachusetts,? Then as
to regulating the liquor traffic. 1t was sug-
gested that if the bars were done away with
there would be less drinking, and law was
passed forbidding the sale of liquor over a
bar, and the saloon keepers provided chairs
and tables for their customers. The result
was an increased sale of liquor, and the chairs
and tables v ere taken out and the bar put
back. Then it was suggested that if the
shades were removed from the windows
SO that an ,unobstructed view Of the in
terror could be had it might lessen the num-
Der of patrons. A law to this effect was en-
acted and still the sales Of liquor increased.
Then as to unlicensed dealers. The number of
search warrants called for in Boston in one
year indicates that there are two unlicensed
sellers to one holding license. The minimum
license in Massachusetts is $1,000 and from
that to $4,000. In Boston license may be
granted to every 500 of population and in the
State to 1000 of population. Is it not reason
able to suppose that the man who pays $1,000
or $4,000 for a license will do everything pos
sible to increase his sales to get this money
| back, as well as that for his other expenses?
High license also offers an inducement to the
unlicensed to engage in the business. Then as
to the working of local option. The city of
Cambridge, which for more than 20 years has
gone dry, is separated only by the Charles
river from Boston with it's licensed saloons.
In one year there were over 1000 arrests for
drunkenness of people from Cambridge, who
although their own city is free from saloons
were victims of the Boston bar rooms. 1t is
the drink which does the evil, said Mr.. Reid
If man paid a million dollar license and solo
liquor over gold bar in jeweled cups the eff.
feet would be the same as though the liquor
had been sold in kitchen dive. As to the criti
cism of the Prohibitionsts for bringing ints
the campaign speakers from other States M,
Reid said that the liquor dealers were working
and spending money here to overthrow prohi
bition, and that all who have the interests O
the State at heart should unite in opposin
them.
At the close of Prof. Nichols address tn
meeting adjourned that the speakers migl
address the people from the auto in post ofhe
square, where they had good audience.
Sunday morning Prof. Mich Is occupied tt
pulpit of the Baptist church; Major Lew
spoke In the church at the Head Of the Tit
and Mrs. Stevenson at Mason's Mills.