The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-04-23
The Liquor Problem in Newton

- AsAAA osAt~MASAS Vi OloAl llllk + dC1Ss
To THE EDITOR OF The JOURNAL:
was deeply stirred by reading the report
in The Journal Of the Democratic Con-
vention in-Portland, as thought what a
calamity it would be for my native State
to change her prohibitory law for Local
Option. had been reading the inclosed
statement of Facts, and memories of
battles fought with the Alcohol Demon
were in my mind. A few years after I
left my home in Maine went to
country town in Worcester county,
Mass, to superintend q town farm.
There were about twenty inmates, the
most Of whom had been brought there
because of the liquor evil. We slso
lodged and fed all the tramps who came
with permit from one of the overseers
of the poor, but compelled all who ap-
peared able to work two hours before
leaving. Very many of them were just
recovering from debauch, and some
were quite young. One school boy said
he went with some of his schoolmates to
a fair to have fine time. They got
some beer, then bottle of whiskey, and
the next day be awoke in Boston guard
house. His money was all gone, as were
all of his chuns, and he was ashamed to
send to his friends for help. So he was
tramping back to his Vermont home. It
was in the winter and he could find but
little he could do to earn money.
During the four years we were on
that farm the town changed twice from
Yes to No license and all the time two or
more adjoining towns were wet. When
we left there we bought place in the
center village. There are four villages
in that town. For several years had
been interested in the cause of temper
ance, and my town farm experience IN
creased it. So l was ready to work for
No license. A young man doing pros
porous business. and also holding an i'm
portant town office, was very strongly
for license, and we often argued. He
said it was only weaklings who were in
iured by drinking. His father, he said,
had always used it, and it had never hurt
him, and he was certain it would never
hurt him. His father was one of my
best neighbors and very fine man. But
the son soon lost control of himself. His
business went under. His health was
shattered, and in fit of dependency he
took shot gun and blew the top of his
head off. There was in the village an
other capable, able bodied young man,
who could get no steady employment be-
cause of the drink habit. His family
had left him, he abused them so. One
day we were working together, and were
alone, and when his family were men
toned he wept and said: "God knows if
| could help drinking would, but have
spells when if l smell it l would go
through fire to get it." He then told me
how the habit was formed. His father
he said was a church man, but always
kent liquor in his house, and furnished it
for his help in haying time. The men
would put little in water with sugar
and give him; soon he had love for it,
then craving that was overpowering.
That poor fellow froze to death while
drunk, There were several other cases
nearly as bad, and the selectmen were
urged to enforce the law, but they said
there were no funds for that purpose.
At the next annual meeting the town
voted $500 for that use, and out of town
detectives were employed, who bought
enough to satisfy their thirst, and make
a big stir throughout the town. There
were a few Prohibitionists who said evil
dence procured in that way did about as
much harm as good, and they objected,
which offended the selectmen. Two of
them were Republicans and one Demo-
crat. and they said the Prohibs ought to
be given the job, as they seemed to
think it could be done so easily. The
town then voted to have committee of
three for that purpose, and chose two
Prohibitionists and one Republican.
They at once notified all who had been
suspected Of selling that the law would
be strictly enforced. They kept their
own council and laid their plans, which
soon furnished convicting evidence. Sew
eral paid fines and one went to Jail.
They served the town year without pay.
For twenty-six years that town has
chosen special committee and raised
$500 for law enforcement. At their 1914
annual meeting the town voted to leave
the matter in the hands of the Select
men. Fourteen years l have lived in
Newton, where the vote on license is
about A no to one yes. All that time
some have thought too much liquor was
sold illegally. Last year our druggists
were refused 9Th class license because
} they recorded sales amounting to 1000
gallons. But rs Express companies were
licensed to carry liquor as usual. The
Statement of Facts referred to shows
that they delivered last year in Newton
1856, 1871 gallons worth $500, 900, which
with that bought at the Boston saloons
by some of the thousands who 60 there
| da;lv in a great drain ,1non nur citv