Prohibition Continues in Maine by S. B. H.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 25, 1912

Prohibition Continues in Maine

By S. B. H.

In harmony with the counsel of the brethren, the writer went to the “Pine Tree State” to assist in a temperance campaign inaugurated as a result of the calling of the legislature in special session to submit a local option amendment to that article of the constitution (Article XXVI) which prohibits the sale and manufacture of alcohol.

The legislature met at Augusta on March 20, the one hundred seventh anniversary of Neal Dow’s birth, and considered four matters contained in the governor’s call, the most important of which was the one concerning the resubmission of the prohibition article to the people for amendment. It required a two-thirds vote in both houses to pass the measure. In the senate the necessary votes were obtained, but in the house the requisite number could not be secured, and the attempt to amend the constitution in the interests of the liquor business ended in failure.

This means that the question becomes an issue between the two dominant parties in this year’s political campaign, one favoring the retention intact of the prohibitory article of the constitution, the other demanding that the saloon business be legalized in the large cities.

In conversing with legislators and public men, we had the privilege of setting before them the principles of true temperance. No public hearing was given, but members in both branches of the legislature made characteristic speeches, those against prohibition meeting the dignified and sensible position of the prohibitionists with sarcasm and non-pertinent witticism.

We prepared articles at different times for twoscore or more of the newspapers of the State, besides attending a Neal Dow meeting in Augusta, under the auspices of Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens and other temperance leaders.

We were privileged to meet with the churches and friends in Richmond, Brunswick, Portland, and in other places on the return trip to Washington. The Lord is blessing the labors of Elder J. F. Piper, the conference president, and also of Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell in the work in Portland. Brother George Whitney, of the local conference, assisted us materially, and this, with the hospitable treatment received, made our stay most agreeable. S. B. H.