Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-29
MAYOR MEANS BUSINESS.
Bangors Chief Executive Says q Test
Of Liquor interest Strength Has
Come,

Standing Tuesday night before a
great throng of delegates to the 45th
annual convention of the Maine State
Sunday School Association, the ses-
sions of which are held in the Column
bia Street Baptist church, Mayor
John G. Utterback of Bangor repeat
ed his statement that the saloons of
Danger must close Nov. /.
There was throng which filled both
seats and standing room in the spa
cious church when, following song
and prayer service, Mayor Utterbeck
was introduced by Rev. G. r. Stair
of Portland, the presiding officer. The
mayor extended greetings to the del
egates called attention to the fact
that Bangor, rich in fine hotels and
stores, and being the center OF pop
ulation. is logically the convention
city of the State; and then plunged
into the subject of enforcement. He
spoke of the unhappy conditions
now existing here, and said that al
though Ii was an honor to represent
Bangor as it's chief executive, he
would rather represent the Bangor OF
the future-which he hoped would be
cleaner than the Bangor of the past
Probably you are all aware of the
ultimatum which went forth from
City hall last Sunday" ne continued
1T was inspired by conditions which
have worried me very seriously Tor
months. and which have reached a
point that make it necessary to de-
teru1ine whether we are to have law
and order or continue to bow our
heads in shame to the will of those
who are working against the city's
interests.
About two months ago l had every
policeman make out list, over MS
signature, of the places on his beat IN
which liquor was sold. tabuiateo
them and found there were 155: and II
is safe to say there are now between
ITS and $50. Now. Massachusetts mas
a license law which permits one sa-
loon to every thousand inhabitants;
and in the city of Pittsfield, which l
recently visited, there are only "a IL
censes. although there Is popuia
ton of $1,000. And now stop ana
think what 1t means for Bangor, the
population of which is 5000, roughly
speaking, to have $50 saloons.
eft is known, and make no secret
of the fact. that I have given ex-
nression to certain desires in the way
of regulation. / asked the dealers te
close at 10 P. M. and on Sundays, te
refrain from selling to minors, and sc
on. but even these requests have been
for the most part, contemporary IL
nored. There were some VINO WERE
willing to follow them-not many, pu'
q few: and these few interceded with
the others. But they had their trouble
for their pains, for the others saio
thew wouldn't follow any police regu-
lations-they'd do just what they
liked.
very we'll. The point has beer
reached where am going to determine
whether law and order, or the rum
element. is to dominate in this CITY
And 7 have a two-fold obJect-hrst, 10
determine the strength of the saioons'
second, to learn the efficiency ana non
esty of the police force.
at is thought in Bangor that many
of the police are in close Animation
with the liquor interests. 1 don't be-
Iieve this is true; / know We have a
numDeT Oh eliCbCilt
trouble is they have never been direct
ed against the saloons. In saying this
have in mind one member OF the
force who told me of certain conoi
tons and said they made him asham-
ed of his city-but who added that, OF
course. he couldn't do anything WITH
ont directions from his superiors.
Now. ladies and gentlemen, / wish 10
assure you of one thing-and 1t is
something which believe all the deal
ers know: Just so long as l hold OF
fee. l am going to use every endeaYor
To enforce the prohibition of the sale
of LIQUOR. Great applauseD / am toio
this attitude means that-to use a
common expression-theyH get my
goat next spring. Well, / am not
no,itician. / was elected through no
party nomination, and I am under OBJ
legations to no individual except my
self. And l want to say right now that
I'd rather be private citizen tnan
chief executive with conditions exist
ing as they are today" (Renewed ap-
plause.)
Then the mayor told how, while pass
ing through Pickering square rev
mornings ago, he was almost hit by a
barrel of ale that was being sluiced
into the cellar of saloon; and 1t
struck him then how funny it would
sound should the word go out that
the mayor of Bangor was laid up be-
cause he couldn't get out of the way
of a barrel of ale right on one of the
main streets. Prohibition or the lack
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