THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN

Southland Times, Issue 16842, 19 September 1911, Page 2

THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN

ITEMS OF INTEREST. (By "ARGUS”). MAINE RETAINS PROHIBITION. [By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.] NEW TORN. September 13. The State of Maine refused by a narrow majority to repeal prohibition. Probably comparatively few of the readers of the "Southland Times” realized (lie true significance of the two line cable message which appeared in yesterday’s issue and which now stands at the head of this column. And yet if tlie accompanying article Is read it will be realized that as the writer says “Maine lias been the scene of one of the greatest liquor fights in modern history" and liquor lias been defeated as we hope it will be also in New Zealand shortly. We are told in the cable message that “Prohibition has been retained by a narrow majority” for details we must wait until the next mall comes to hand but in the meantime it, must be remembered that in America they have the bare majority and that money has been poured out like water by the liquor party, consequently 'for Maine to have come off victorious is a matter for sincere congratulation. If the oldest Prohibition state had fallen it was no doubt recognised by both parties that a set back would have been given to the NoLlcense movement. The following article will be read with Interest. THE FIGHT IN MAINE. (By “Guy Hayler”). During the whole of the sixty years that Prohibition has been a constltutioned law of the State of Maine the great brewers of Boston, Portsmouth and other places in the New England State have endeavoured to secure violations of the law and to bring its operation into disrepute. Perilaps on no question of public policy has greater controversy raged than on that of the success or failure of Prohibition in Maine. The brewers must have spent tens of thousands of pounds first in sending Into Maine under the inter-State commerce law quantities of liquor with a view to breaking down the enforcement of the Prohibition law, and secondly In circulating by means of the Press the’most grotesque caricatqres respecting the failure of the law to do something which it had no power to do. There is no doubt that a large number of people in this country believe that Prohibition in the State of Maine has been a huge failure, yet the people of Maine, who knew the condition of the State'under license and have been living under the much maligned Prohibition laws, have by large majorities repeatedly declared in Its favour. The last vote taken was in 1884, when 70,784 voted for maintaining the State law and 23,811 against, showing a majority of 46.973 against admitting the liquor traffic again into their midst. Since that time many attempts have been made to secure a re-submission of the question to a popular vote, but the necessary two-thirds majority of the members of the two Houses of the Legislature could not be obtained. A New Situation. Maine has for a great number of years been recognised as a Republican, State and the great Republican party of the United States has been the upholders of Increased tariffs upon all imported goods. The McKinley and other tariffs have so largely increased the cost of house rent, living, clothing, and other articles of necessity that a rising tide of public opinion has been in operation for a number of years. The chief opposition to these high tariffs has come from the great democratic party which "has conducted a great agitation in favour of reduction, while numbers of other politicians havfe been advocating the adoption of Free Trade. In the elections of 1906 the Republicans in many of their former strongholds only escaped defeat by very small majorities, and in 1910 State after State was won by the Democrats, so that both the Senate and House of Representatives of the U.S.A. will for the first time since the Civil War have a Democratic majority. In this land-slide against the Republican high tariffs. Maine was one of the first States to revolt against the Republicans electing,a Democratic governor. Senate, and House of Representatives. The liquor party in Maine have for many years been recognised as the chief supporters of the Democratic party; they have largely found the finances,for conducting the campaigns, and have supplied an enormous number of men to carrv on the agitation, protesting not onlv against the Prohibition law, but against the huge cost of the raw material used in the distillation and brewing of spirits, beers, etc. Thus an entirely now situation lias arisen in Maine. In their effort to break down the high tariffs and to cheapen the means of living, large numbers of Prohibitionists have made common cause with theßDenfocrats and liquor men, with the result that these people ai‘e now the rulers of the State and the Prohibition law is in dangerous hands. The Wisdom of General Neal Dow. In the early days of the struggle for Prohibition, back in the first half of the nineteenth century. General Neal Dow was often heard to declare, “We must put Prohibition into the constitution, and thus take it out of the way of politicians repealing it without a vote of the people.” So more than half a century ago Prohibition was made a part of the State constitution. The wisdom of the bravo old General lias now been, put to the test. The State being in the hands of the opponents of prohibition, there can be no doubt that had they the power they would immediately repeal the law and introduce the liquor traffic once more into the State. But it is a constitutional law placed there by a popular vote of the people and can only be removed by a similar expression of opinon. Over and over again attempts have been made to carry the Legislature in favour of resubmission. but without avail. Four vein's since at the suggestion of Governor Cobb a thoroughgoing Prohibitionist. the Legislature appointed a commission with a view to securing a more thorough enforcement of Prohibition in tiie few places, where an attempt was being made to evade the law by means of fines, etc. While this has resulted in a more rigid enforcement, much dissatisfaction has arisen over the cost of the commission and the apparent interference bv the State Government with the civil authority. From this it will V, S ecn that the question of the prohibition of the liqupr traffic is closely mixed up with a political party striving for the reins of office and the bad economic conditions of the people brought about bv high tariffs and the excessive cost of living. What the outcome will he It is very difficult at this time to forecast. A Plebiscite to he Taken. The Democrats have been in office only a few weeks, but one of the first questions to be tackled has been that of tiie constitutional prohibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. The liquor party are hard task masters. Having found the greater proportion of the money for the contest, they demand that the victory shall he celebrated by. if possible, the re-establishment of the liquor traffic in Maine. The first step toward ttie consummation of their design is to have the matter re-submitted to the people. A measure with this object was introduced into the Senate on Tuesday, February 11th, by which the required six months’ notice is given that In September, 1911. n special election will be held to determine by popular vote if the Prohibition law shall he continued In the constitution or not. The division showed 23 for re-submission and 7 against. The proposal having passed the Senate was brought before the House of Representatives, and on Thursday, February IBth. after a short discussion, was adopted, the voting being 105 for and 10 against. Both branches of the Legislature having by a two-thirds maioritv determined that the question shall be piaced before the people for their decision, it only remains for the new Governor, who is a Democratic and liquor party man. to sign the measure and it will be law. The contest will take place as stated in September next, and from now to then Maine will be the scene of one of the greatest fights in modern history. ' There is no question that the brewers and distillers of the United States will pour money out like water, and that the State will be flooded with their emissaries in the hope of destroying the Prohibition law. The Prohibitionists of the United States will no doubt make great sacrifices to maintain the present constitution law of Maine. Upon the Temperance, Christian, and civic organisations of Maine rests a great responsibility- If men and money are

needed for the contest from outside the Suite, let the appeal go forth at once, so that the mostperfect organisation may be effected to hold the grand old State of Maine for Prohibition.