The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-08-05
Pine Tree State Set Example for
State-W ide Prohibition IS
Years Ago Fights
Growing Bitter e
VOTE GIN ISSUE SEPTEMBER II
Democratic Party PIfses viii Be
Fulfilled When Constitutional
Amendment Comes Before "a.
Voters Next Month.

Augusta, Me. August 5.-Sixty- five
years ago today the Democratic legis-
lature of the state of Maine enactedI
the first prohibition law against the
liquor traffic. thus setting an example
of state wide prohibition which was
not Inflated by other common wealths
until many years later. In another
month, on Septermeb IL OF this year,
at prohibition, which has been sta
tutory from 1854 to 1884 and constitu-
tional ever since shall remain part ofl
the states constitution or not.
Since the state Of Maine enacted the
first prohibition has made tremendous
strides. The movement is no longer a |
state or even national movement, |
but has assumed an International
character. In many countries through !
out the world the war against tne IL |
quor traffic has been taken up and the |
prohibition movement has met with
varying degrees of success. For this |
reason the battle which Is now being /
fought in this state is attracting |
worldwide attention. Maine was the |
pioneer of the prohibition movement
and maintained state wide prphibition
continuously longer than any other
commonwealth i'm the world. IL is quite
natural, therefore. that the coming
election is awaited with the most. in
tense interest throughout the world.
Is Regarded as Test.
II Is generally admitted by. friends
of prohibition I'm and outside the state
that great deal depends upon the
outcome OF the coming election. In
fact. II Is believed that the result of
the vote viii be OF the most vital in
huence upon the future of the prQhi-
bition movement. If the majority of
the voters I'm Maine should decide byl
their vote that constitutional prohibit
tion, after n test OF q years, was
found by them unfeasible or undesir-
able, this decision would mean a Sc
we're blow To the hopes of the friends
Of prohibition who, for years. have
been working. inspired by the thought
that some day all nations would COM
blne i'm suppressing the liquor traffic
Fight is Bitter.
The campaign now I'm progress I'm
this state and which will continue foe
another month, until the last vote shall
have been cast at the coming cleo
tion. began practically Immediately l.
after the election I'm September Of last
year, when II became certain, that a
Democratic legislature had been elect
ed, believed to be pledged to vote for
n re- submission OF the prohibition
clause of the constitution. People out
side of this state cannot imagine how
bitter and desperate is the fight be-
tween the prohibition and the anti
prohibition factions I'm this state. The
was begun by the prohibit
tfunists with n rush and steadily In I
creased I'm vigor and bitterness and
there Is every reason to believe that
the remaining month will witness q
i'm this state, unparalleled
I'm fierceness I'm the history of political
fights
Prohiblitionists Aagrcssors.
So far the prohibitionists have been
the aggressors. As early as october Is
adopted by unanimous vote
n resolution declaring. "That any per- {
son who votes or In any way influences
others TO vote. directly or Indirectly g
to so amend our Constitution as p
admit of n license of the liquor traffic |
high low local or wide. T. 3
guilty uf giving his neighbor
drink and putting the bottle to him
as the rum seller. and the woe OF the
OF God is upon him" That
is rather strong language. but IL is
fair sample. OF the language used byI
The prohibit nists In the present cam
raign. Everywhere their cry Is Rum G
against Righteousness"
Woman Leading Fight.
Even the opponents OF prohibitionI
nre forced 20 admit that the prohibit
tinnists are remarkably well organized =
and are putting up n great fight. The L
leader of the prohibition campaign IL
n woman. Mrs l.. NJ. N. Stevens. ma i
iional president of the w. c. T. us
She is n Maine woman and a resident
or Portland. She has fought for pro-
hibition many years, hut she regards
the present contest as the greatest
hattie of her life.
Under her direction the whole state
was flooded with campaign literature
NJ the most vigorous nature. She en-
listed the church, the Sunday schools.
the children and women to fight for
and brought speakers from; :
all parts of the u. s. and even from 1
where prohibition has many Z
staunch supporters. II
The anti-prohibtion campaign is 4,
conducted by the Maine Non-P -Partisan I
Local Self Government league, which I