MAINE LIQUOR LAW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 7

MAINE LIQUOR LAW.

POPULAR VOTE FOR REPEAL. Now York, September 1?. After sixty years of prohibition the State of Maine yesterday voted for the repeal of the constitutional . enactment prohibiting the manufacture or sale of intoxicants within the State. .The result of tho vote stands; 60,807 "Wets," or anti-prohibitionists, against 60,186 "Drys," or prohibitionists. Eight small towns yet to bo hoard from, but it is not expected that any change will result. [These figures give a majority ' of 621 against prohibition.] Thus by the narrowest majority Maine's unifluo boast that two generations have grown to manhood in tho State without seeing a single public bar no longer holds. "Tho .Legislature will proceed immediately to enact legislation permitting putlichouses to conduct business under the State license. .. Soveral times'since 1851, when tho iirst anti-liquor law was adopted, it has been strengthened by the popular vote. Tho last occasion was in 1881, when the vote stood 70,783 for the continuance of the prohibition to 23,811 against. The result now announced is, therefore, a surprising change of 'public sentiment, and is due largely to tho feeling that, prohibition .legislation is a great breeder of hypocrisy. Although intoxicants could not publicly be sold, anybody wanting liquor could obtain it secretly without difficulty. Hid-ing-places known as "easies" nnd "blind tigers" are located everywhere throughout the State, whoro any kind of liquor is obtainable by those to the proprietors as "safe." These drinks were poor in quality, and often greatly adulterated, which fact had a great influenco on yesterday's voting. Besides these secret publichouses, numerous "patent medicines" are sold by Maine chemists which are nothing but whisky and brandy. One excellent brand of Scotch whisky is sold as hair restorer. 'Points near Canada and New Hampshire are frequently used for crossing the boundary by Maine citizens in search of intoxicants, and it lias long been a notorious sight to witness returning revellers. One Sunday morning train to Canada is known throughout tho State ■as the "grand drunk" train. These facts, led many temporanco ndvocates to conclude that the enforcement of prohibition by law has broken down, and that tho system developed greater evils than thoso it cured, Maine, therefore, will revert to the high license, and n strict supervision in tho future of its drink trade.—London "Standard," September 13th, 19U *