Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-29

Wfue proHlDltlOn OF the liquor DusiHess III
West Virginia will become effective next
Tuesday, midnight. 1t brings the total
number of states In the prohibition col
umn up to nine.
With West Virginia added. the list will
be: Georgia. Kansas, Maine, Mississippi,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklaho-
ma. Tennessee, West Virginia. These
nine states of total prohibition territory,
plus the local no-license area, make up
2,132, 726 square miles in which 46,029, $50
persons or nearly so per cent. of the
country's population live according to the
latest figures of the prohibition leaders.
The $4,000 majority with which the peo-
pie of West Virginia accepted the dry
proposition was relatively the largest
ever given by any state. 1t was approx
mately 2 to l for statewide suppression
of the liquor business. 1t was a surprise
even to the prohibition forces, who were
indebted largely to the determined stand
which many of the large employees took
in favor of their cause. The State has a
population of 1,221,119 by the census of
1910
The mandate of the legislature, embod
led In the Yost bill, for the enforcement
of the new law, beginning July list, de-
parts in many respects from the methods
hitherto tried along this line. The chief
features center about the creation of a
Commissioner of prohibition. whose par
ticular business 1t will be to see that by
next Tuesday midnight some 1900 liquor
selling places in the State have disposed
of their stocks and that thereafter all
persons shall be punished by law If they
keep liquor for sale.
The new office of Commissioner of
prohibition automatically falls to State
Tax Commissioner Fred o. Blue of this
city, who has been spending several
months in preparation for strict en-
forcement of the new law.
To save the state the time and expense
of taking violations before state courts,
he has been Urging municipal ordinances
governing the violations, thus permitting
the cases to be brought before the local
courts.
In an effort to instruct the people as ia
the provisions of the new law, Commits
sioner Blue has also been lecturing
throughout the state
In other states" says Mr. Blue
where prohibition has been adopted, one
of the. forces that has had to be contend
ed with has been the drug store. The
Yost law will regulate this feature
Druggists may sell alcohe, only to per-
sons not addicted to is use Upon pre-
scription of a reputable physician, who
has examined the person and IN detail
set forth in the prescription the reasons
for the use of alcohol. The governing
bodies of druggists have approved of this
plan. For scientific or mechanical pur-
poses alcohol will be sold only after aft.
davit as to its intended uses, the uni.
form records of all such sales will be
kept, to be inspected periodically by
those in charge of the enforcement of the
law No druggist, however, can sell ir
any form whiskey, brandy ale or any
beverage of an intoxicating nature.
THE Yost law also undertakes to d.
away with the drinking clubs, which
have been the sources of so much trouble
in other states,'' he said: ut provide.
that any person directly or indirectly as
ISOLATED in keeping such a club house OF
other place where liquor is kept for gift
barter or sale, shall be punishable up
on conviction by fine of from 500 IL
$500 and by imprisonment from one t.
six months.
THE enactment of the Webb Kenyon
law by Congress will be of considerable
assistance in enforcing the prohibition
law in this state" He continued:
"One of the benefits of the federal Ac
is that records of interstate shipments O
liquors may be required, and therefor,
every railroad, express company ant
any kind of transportation company in
Guiding steamboats, and vessels carryins
freight or express. either from another
state into ours, or from one part of ou
state to another part must obey the law.
of this state respecting liquors Ever,
one of the transportation companies will
be required to keep special records a.
the point of delivery showing the receip
Of liquors, the kind and quantity, Il
whom consigned, when delivered, ant
the consignee must sign in person for tn,
shipment. The Webb-Kenyon act vest.
the right TO enforce these provisions o.
the law and regulation thereundel
against interstate carriers. None o.
these carriers will be permitted to re
ceive consignments, of liquor to an,
point where there is not regularly EN-
ployed agent to keep such records, anC
have them open for inspection at al
times.
1.-The man who is engaged in the steam
boat business upon our waters. inter