Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-15

beth Gordon Of Boston has had q
strikingly, interesting interview with
Sheriff Davis on the rum question and
has also visited Lewiston bar rooms In
lkgarch OF information first hand. says
the Lewiston Journal.
Miss Gordon is a noted woman in the
temperance cause. She is a lecturer and
organizer for the National women's
Christian Temperance Union and
sister OF Miss Anan A. Gordon, Ma
tional president OF the w. c. T. L.
She is an able woman, knows the
world thoroughly and is quite the
match for any local politicians or bar
keepers. Miss Gordon says:
I heard so much about the flag
rant violation of the law that / have
just call on the sheriff. who granted
me a courteous interview. He said he
had been unfairly treated. He claim
ed that he was doing the best he could,
and that he had cleaned Main street Of
the Illegal, joints. He gave figures
showing large fines exacted from the
law breakers. In speaking of the diff
cultles of enforcement he said, 1 wish
Boston was a million miles away from
the State OF Maine.
In answer to the question, do you
believe in the State law" he said, IT
believe in national constitutional pro-
hibitior. With license states all around
us Maine has no chance" reply to the
inquiry. Did any law breaker ever
offer You hush money. he said most
ernphatically. I'D like to have a man
off to pay me hush money" ! said, II
have been told that sheriffs in Maine
aften GO into Office poor and come out
rich" is that true?" 1T is not true
in my case
Did you see any of the Illegal bar
rooms?" asked the interpreter. Yes;
with a friend ! visited several and was
shocked at what / saw. In quiet but
decided way / made my protest against
the violation of the law. 1t was nearly
high noon when we visited the first joint
"a place where nothing but cigar and
cigarette signs appeared in the window.
and there was nothing TO indicate the
kind Of business going on inside-we
found eight men drinking at the bar.
Two others came in while We were there.
One young man was intoxicated and
was somewhat annoying in his remarks
and even followed us onto the sidewalk.
insisting that he wanted to speak with US.
Il stepped up TO the bar and asked
the man in attendance, What do you
sell here His reply was Ginger ale
=" Don't you sell intoxicating Liquors.
! ventured. The row Of men at the bar
put down their glasses, looked at the bar
tender and then at me, apparently con-
cerned as to what he would answer. He
made no reply.
Pointing to a lager beer sign on the
wall I said, You break the law If you
sell this in a prohibition state. don's
YOU Yes. il we sell it, he answered.
~ Shut Door in Her Face
~The appearance of the second place
went was similar. though the estab-
lishnent was smaller. There was moth
ing in the windows to show the sort Of
business carried on, the partitions with
swing doors were close to the entrance,
as customary In these places.
I'VE went through the main door and
started to open the swing door when
the man in charge prevented. He held
the door open Just a crack and appeared
sNneh esabarrassed.
- put the same question to him. What
dc You aeM here?' got the same reply.
-Gfngsr ale. Then / added, Yes and you
sell manhood. too. don't you-and in
b peohihsfsG state?' He closed the door
In my 49,
'Tlkfs, ~ No Place for Ladies'"
The next place we visited had the
same outward appearance but the in
terror was more elaborate-the ma
hcgany bar with its large mirrors. the
glasses piled in tiers beneath all the
appointments indicating expense.
THE instant we stepped inside the
swing door. the man in charge came
from behind the bar neryously eX-
planning, This is no place for la
dies"
Three men were drinking at the
bar. One of them interrupted with
sarcasm. There's no harm in Uno
Beer
This is no decent place for la.
dies repeated the bar tender, but l
made no move to go. saying that any
public place, properly conducted.
should be suitable for ladies to enter.
We have a right to be here. II we
choose l added, but ] assure you 1t
was no pleasure to be in such a place.
He insisted that It was not place
for ladies and I really thought he
would take me by the shoulder and
put me out but he didn't. The three
men at the bar laughed and sneered
and one Of them suggested, oh, give
'em a glass of ginger alel'
Where did you get your license to
sell liQuorgs continued.
80 y on know where I got Il ~ wen
as dois was the impatient reply and
with this we left the place.
Told Sheriff Davis - cendttasns
After these three viaits / called
Sheriff Davis On the te3ephona, re-
minded him OF my interview Win him
in the morning. ana told him vas1ee /;
had been, what hAd eeen &xsd sug.
gested that Thought u he knew con
ditions, he would get after the places.
81 WILL courteously declared the
sheriff.
"A little later " went to- the fourth
plsxs. in a different locality. a place
wb1S / understand has been much
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