The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-08-09
VETS AND DRYS IN MAINE
A BITTER FIGHT OVER PROHIBT-
TION is RAGING THERE.
IrohibitiOmsts Have Enlisted School
Children in Their Campaign and
Whole State Is ConvuIsed.

Whole State Is Convulsed.
PORTLAND, Me.-Rum against
righteousness is the battlecry of the
prohibitionists from Fort Ken, TO
kittery, and the whole state is in the
midst of the most exciting campaign
In its history, the issue being the
proposed repeal of the amendment to
the constitution adopted in 1884 and
IonDII 10 eIBs eQl Su!ppIqIoJ I9AoIo1
Inc last legislature passed a law re-
submitting to the people the Dues
ton of constitutional prohibition and
the date of the election is September
~ Both sides-those favoring a
repeal and those opposing it-are
putting forth every effort to win.
Prohibitionists Aggressive.
The prohibitionists have made by
far the most aggressive fight. The
have conducted speaking meetings
all over the state, have distributed
their literature everywhere and have
enlisted the sympathy of the church.
es, oranges, many of the civic and
some of the secret organizations. Not
long ago the Association of the State
superintendent of Schools met apd
resolved that for the sake of the
children the prohibitory amendment
should be retained. The Maine Sun
day School Association passed reso-
lutlons OF strongly condemnatory
order and threatened the "woe of
the prophet of God upon the head
OF any person voting to do away with
the prohibition clause The leader
of the prohibition forces is Mrs. l..
M. N. Stevens, national president of
the w. c. T. U.
In the first place, she began to or
ganize the children of the state.
Young Campaigners for Prohibition,
as they are called, were formed in
almost every school district in the
state and the organization is now
said to number 10000 boys and girls.
They have buttons and song books
and leaders, and they march and sing
for prohibition
Among the speakers who have TAX
en- the platform in aid of the prohi-
bition cause are Congressman Hob
son and ex-Congressman Littlefield,
and it is intended to import speakers
from England, for it is urged that
prohibition is an international mat
ter.
License Crowd Is Active.
But the anti-prohibition organiza-
ton is not idle. 1t is called the
Maine Non-Partisan Local Self-Gov-
eminent League and was formed at
Augusta several weeks ago and is
made up of men of standing and in
tegrity The presiding officer was
Rev. Luther Mckinney, a Universal
list minister and former member of
congress, and its president is DR..
Seth G. Gordon of this city, a sur
geon of national fame While its
membership is made up for the most
part of democrats there are many
republicans of influence who belong
to it, Meetings are soon to be held
all over the state, but only Maine
speakers will be heard, for the asso-
citation says that the issue is a Maine
one and should be left to Maine to
settle
Opinion is strongly divided as to
which side will win. Some say that
the repeal will be beaten by $4,000
votes, while the license side assert
that repeal will be carried There
are many thousands in the state who
VINO know in their heart that prohi-
Dltton in this state has never prohib-
lted. They know that the enforce
ment of the law has been a farce and
has led to many other abuses, and it
is believed that this element, which
is taking things easy and keeping,
out OF the glare of publicity, will
vote for repeal They believe with
President Taft, Cardinal Gibbons.
and DR., Eliot of Harvard that regu-
lation of the license question is more
practical than out and out prohibi-
ton.