The Portland daily press., 1876-10-14
Mass Temperance Convention.

Pursuant to call signed by Hon. Henry
Tallman of Bath, and others, a very lightly at
tended state temperance meeting was held at
Meonian Hall, Augusta, Thursday, to devise
means to induce Congress to prohibit the man.
ufacture and sale of liquors. N f. Woodbury.
of Auburn called the meeting to order, and Mr.
Tallman was elected president, f. A. A. Heath
of Hallowell and Abbie &. Marden of Palermo
secretaries,
Mr.. Tallman on taking the chair, spoke
briefly Of the objects of the m Getting.
The following vice presidents were chosen:
N. f. Woodbury. of Auburn, Rev. Mr.. LEILA
cheur of Ha'lowell, Mrs. Fitzgerald of Bruns-
wick. and Mrs. Livermore of Gardiner.
At the request of the chairman, prayer was
then offered by the Rev. DR.. Adams of Wins
low.
The following committee on resolutions
was raised by nomination from the floor:
Messrs Woodbury. of Auburn, LeLacheur of
Hallowell, and Mrs. Fitzgerald of Brunswick.
Mr.. Woodbury. of Auburn said that as the
meeting was for action, as well as talk, he
| thought it necessary that committee should
| be appointed looking to the formation of dis
| tinctve political party, and that state COM
mittee is needed to carry out effectively the OBJ.
| jects of the call. Mr.. Tallman concurred
In the afternoon Mr.. Clark of Mechanic
| Falls presided.
| Messrs. Goodwin of Gardiner, Curtis Of Cor
| lima and Perkins of Palermo were appointed
| on the committee to nominate electors for Pres
ident and Vice.President
| Mr.. Woodbury. reported resolutions reaffirm-
| ing the platform adopted by the national proh
bition party, including woman suffrage, &C.,
| committing to district temperance party, the
support of the prohibition candidates for Presi-
| dent and Vice President.
Mr.. G. H. Mathews of Watervlle objected to
forming new temperance party. Rev. Mr.
Park of Gardiner said he signed the call for the
| meeting on the affirmation1that it was for the
object indicated, but now he learned that il
was to form new party. Mr.. Fitzgerald also
objected to turning the meeting into some
thing different from the object set forth in the
call. MIR. Woodbury. said the gentlemen who
| got up the meeting were absent.
Mr.. j. 2. Curtis of Corinna said that il
measures were taken for the formation of a
| third party, it would not meet the approval oil
the temperance men and women Of the state
He declined serving on the nominating COM
| mittee for electors for President and Vice Pres
ideEt. MIR. Levi Goodwin also declined thai
| position.
Mr.. Levi Good win of Gardiner believed in
non-sectarian, non-relgous effort and opera
tlons in the cause of temperance. He would
| form no third party; when the temperance
men and women arrive at high point in the
reformatory work, the party I'll be formed o
| itself and without any arbitrary action. Mr.
Goodwin took the stand aRl spoke further fol
| peace and harmony.
Mr.. Mathews said he came as o delegate
from Waterville, but he would hate to e
home with such record as we had made here
He thought, on the whole, the meeting bette
adjourn and the members go home determined
to let politics alone in their temperance work
Mr.. s. W. Woodbury. of Auburn assured thu
meeting that they might as we'll make up the i
minds that they would never get good temper
ance legislation from either party. If we dom
do something besides talk, we will never gail
any advance. He would have moral suasiol
for the rum drinker, and legal suasion fer tn,
rumseller. We cannot make temperate,
party out of either party. If gentlemen did no
endorse the resolutions, let them submit plar
of operations
Mr.. Mathews said we had legislation enough
if we only enforce it. He though that this &C
tion was ill-advised.
| A vote was taken on the resolutions, an(
they were laid on the table unanimously.
Rev. Mr.. Park then offered the following res
olution, which was unanimously adopted:
ReSoEued, That all friends of Temperance
throughout the country be invited and request
cd by conventions and petitions to bring sue
influences to bear upon Congress as shall lea
| at the earliest possible date to the abolition Q
the manufacture and traffic in ardent spirits b
| our national government.
After few additional remarks the meetin
| adjourned.