Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-21
Or. Berry's Letter.

Waterville. Me, Oct. Is, 1915.
70 the Editor ofgthe Waterxiile Senti-
nel: ~-<
On Oct. 9Th. before the Baptist
Stale conference in this city, 1 said
that if the clergymen present would
take off their white ties they could,
without difficulty, purchase liquors in
he centers in four counties named.
In an editorial, Oct. Sth, you calle q
this statment in question so far as
il then applied to Androscogsin coun-
n, saying, We have reason to be-
ueve that Dr.. Berry did not : give a
correct picture Of the situation" You
then suggested two things, first, that
investigate Androscoggin county
conditions: second. that investigate
conditions in Waterville. where, you
declared, lit is a matter of common
knowledge that liquor may be easily
obtained"
These suggestions you made in
the interest of fair play you said,
though you also suggested that IL
might he TOO much to expect me Ia
heed your suggestion. that is to play
fair.
r. am about TO disappoint you. The
suggested investigation has been
made. and I am sending the results
10 you with the suggestion that in
the interest of fair play" you pub
nsh ii in the Sentinel and l do not
thing il too much" to expect you
70 SO do.
My Investigations have been limit =
ed 20 the cities of Lewiston and Wa
terv!lle Let me first. briefly, COM
pare these cities. 81, Lewiston had in
1910 population of 2S.247; Water
Vile had 11.45S.
Lewiston has four special liquor
deputy sheriffs. one of whom resides
In Auburn. and two regular deputies.
Waterville has one special liquo;
deputy under half pay. and one regu-
lar deputy sheriff.
Through agents and in person,
had investigated Lewiston conditions
before / spoke. Through agents
have frequently investigated Water.
vile conditions.
An investigation of Lewiston. since
IouI editorial, disclosed that the gen
eral conditions as to the sale Of in
toxcants, remained the SAM s wher
my agents previously investigated
that city and ] publicly Informed GOV
ernor Curtis of the then existin.
liquor sale conditions.
My agent without difficulty pur-
chased a half pint of uhiskey in eacf
Of the first three places visited anc
cid not purchase more because he die
rot care to exchange more good money
for poor whiskey. a considerable
number Of places were visited anc
both interior and exterior conditions
in these places were found to be just
as they were on the occasion OF
previous visits. There were no watch
efs. There was no hesitation in sell
ins. The interior was 2 regularly
equipped saloon. and the whiskey was
passed out without delay. The agent
was not refused in any place.
A saloon kept by woman. and
one or two other saloons visited pre-
viously, the agent found closed.
This same agent investigated con-
dltons in Waterville. He visited
nine places, one Of them a drug store,
One place was closed. In six places
he was Informed that they had NJ
Uhiskey; in the seventh his request
for Uhiskey was refused. in tbs
eighth he was taken into bar room.
and waited at least five minutes
While the bar keeper went out and
brought in to him a half pint of whis-
key.
asked the agent if conditions in
Waterville We're similar to those in
Lewiston. and he said. In no respect
are they similar. In Lewiston / was
at once passed whiskey from stock
near at hand in every place ! asked
for ii. At Waterville l got whiskey
in one of eight places. and had to
wait while the man went out and got
It,"
In Lewiston there were no indi-
cations Of caution in selling whiskey,
nor Of fear. In Waterville there were
Continued on Last Paue-Coi. 81