Maine Prohibition

The editor of the Couiuer was down in Malne last summur and liad a good opportunlty for observing the effect of the prohibition laws in that state. He noticetl at Portland, Bungor, Augusta, and other cities that the train ordinarily stop ten minutes for refrcsliments In the depot at each of the places is a large soda wateii fountain, in front of which, assoon as the train stops, a line of thirsty men forms and in turn cali for " gingerale," "soda liz.. ' "kronk" or "don't care." They would resume thelr seats in the car with a satislied expression on thelr faces, and tlien remark upon that being the best beer or whisky they had had in sometime. More open drinking was seen there la a week than one aees in Michigan in a year 1111less he is a regular habitué of a saloon. There may not be so inuch actual drinking there as here buttliere is more drunkenness, because where raen llave whisky in jugs or barrels in tiieir houses they will drink oftener than where they have to walk several blocks for it. One reason given for the non-success of prohibition in Maine is that t basso inucli c mst line that whisky is too easily brought in by trading vessels Irom Europe, Mass aohusetts, New York or the Bahamas. That is undoubtedly a good renson. Xow tliat being the c;ise how much better will it opérate in Michigan where we have about a thousand miles of coast line with harbors crowded with vessels from Ciliada, and otlier states where tliere are no prohibitory laws? It is already toe difflcult a matter to eoforce such luws in an nland state, but wliere it is surrounded by water as we are, the superabundarle ol of water helps (he whisky, tnaking its abolishmentpractically mpo9sible. Michigan therefore is the last state in the Union where prohibition can and will succeed. In the great prohibitory state ol Maine - the head center of that idea for tlie world, ttie United States government collected during the year 1886, the U. S. tax frora 1,262 liquor dealers, or one to every 515 of that state's inhabitants. Of, the above, 1,150 paid the tax as retail splrituous liquor dealers; 100 as retail malt lkiuor dealers: 6 as wholesale snirituous liquor dealers, and 6 as Wholesale malt liquor dealers. Is not that a pretty fair record for a prohibitory state? Tliese figures are from official sources. Tbat is not all. Not one of the numerous "clubs" where liquor s as free aa water, pays any tax at uil. The trouble is not with the law, but with the people. Citizens refuse to make coaiplaints, witnesses will not testify nor jurors convict. The fact is public sentiment does not sustain the law and make it effective. How will it be in Michigan ifthe prohibitory amendraent carrlesf Capt. E. P. Allen, Congressman-elect, has gone to Washington to look the ground over and to get aequainted with lus coming duties and eolleagucs. A generous andcharacteristicüliy manly act was done by him in Detroit last Wedneaday niorning wlien he declined the nvitation to accoiupany Senators Palmer and Hawley, and Kcpresentatives Routelle and Wise back to Washington in their private car, in onler to stand by the county delegation and put Mr. Sawyer in nomination bcfore the convention. Not many men would h:ive thus mbsed the opportunity ofl'erod.