Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-01

Last week was a pdcN NAS 90 NAA~ ~f
nal Wednesday and Thursday the
Maine Press Association and Name
State Temperance Convention were both
in session, and Thursday afternoon pub
lie hearings were given on the subjects OF
divorce and franchise Of women to the
extent OF school affairs.
rEMrERANCE CONVENTION.
The temperance meeting was held IN
public hall and was largely attended
The mos, conservative elements had con
troll of the convention until the last even
ing session. when Gov Plaisied presided.
IL is well known that Gov. Plalsted IS
not temperance man, and his appear
ance as presiding officer in meeting OF
that kind was both hypocritical and DIS
gushing. Gov. Plais,ed read one OF his
army orders which forbade the issue
of whiskey ratioDs in his brigade, and
argued that this was evidence OF his tenn
perance principles. But his well known
habits speak far more against him than
this order can speak for him. When
profesSed Temperance society will allow a
hypocrite 20 preside at It's meeting because
he nav be governor. we are Inclined 10
dis;rust the sincerity Of those who con
,rol its actions. Gov PlaiSted pledged
himself 10 enforce the prohibitory law a.
!, stands, constabulary clause and all.
He evidently expects tina, this clause
will be repealed; bu, in this ne will PROB
ably be disappointed; for If the Legls!a-
ture is wise. as 1t appears to be, there
will be no temperance legislation at all
this winter. Gov PlAis,ed should have
a fair opportunity to show what the oP-
position can do for the cause Of temper
ance which has 50 long been tos,ered by
the Republican party.
MAINE PRE>S ASSOCIATION.
The first session Of the annual meeting
of the Maine Press Association was held
in the Senate Chamber "Wednesday even
ing. There was an unusually full at
tendance 81 members being present.
The Treasurer report was read anu
showed balance Of slls.ll IN the
treasury. The following officers were
unanimously elected for 1881:
President Marshall y. Rich, Of Port
Vice Pre>identS-Israel Z. Warren. OF
Portland. William b Lapham, OF Augusta,
Nm = Gilman OF HOultOu-
Secretary Joseph Wood. of Skowhe-
gan.
Treasurer. O. Viokery, OF Augusta
Correspondent. Secretary-F. q. Rich.
OF Portland
Executive Committees. L. Boardman'
OF Augusta. II. ". Richardson, or Fort
land, George II. Watkins, of Paris.
The second DAYS session, was held
Thursday. The forenoon was devoted to
business pertaining 10 journalism and job
work. \ committee consisting of George
II. Watkins. r g Rich, and Brown Thurs
ton was appointed to confer with the
printers Of Maine in relation to job rates.
On motion Of DR.. W. b. L.apham, II
was voted 10 make the summer excursion
to Rangeley Lakes, by such route and
such variations as the committee may
decide upon.
The following committee was appoint
Ell 70 arrange for the next annual exeui
ton: Charles W Keyes, Pennington
". B. Lapham, Augusta, George H..
Watkins, Paris.
II was also voted 10 hold the next an
nual meeting at Portland.
At the afternoon session in the Senate
Chamber. an able and scholarly address
on The Newspaper Press Was read
bv Rev. b. p. Snow. of Alfred. Mr.. W.
o. Fuller, of Rockland, read very witty
poem entitled The Goblin Of the Press .
In the evening reunion and supper
was had al Hotel North After the sup
per appropriate remarks were made by
President Locke, Of the Maine Senate,
Speaker Hutchinson, of the House, Hon.
W. ". Thomas, IT,, Of Portland, ex-Gov.
Dingley, of Lewiston, and MesSrs Ho-
man, OF Augusta, Elwell, of Portland,
and others.
The meeting was one Of the largest
and pleasantest yet held.
OXFORD COUNTY INTERESTS.
Among the most interesting depart
ments al Augusta. is the Adjutant Cen
erals office, over which Gen. George L.
Beal. of Norway. presides. Gen. Beal Is
q military man in every sense OF the
word. and loves his work. OF course he
loves his work or he would not occupy
the position; a. the salary has been Cut
10 so low a figure, there Is no such thing
as living and supporting a family on 1t.
Gen. Beal has not only reOrganized the
militia under the law of last year, but he
has systematized every department, and
put the whole on an excellent basis.
We were exceedingly interested IN his re-
marks concerning rife practice. Atpresen'
nearly everv state Is striving more 10 perfect
its militia in the use of arms than in the
performance Of evolutions. This Is also
the case in the regular army. Recent
Investigations have showed that an enOr-
nous waste Of ammunition has resulted
from every battle. Only one shot out Of
several hundred has been effective.
MANY men have never learned to fire
with any degree Of accuracy and most OF
the shots are wasted. Other soldiers
have not learned to estimate distances
and gauge the elevation of their guns SC
as 10 carry the ball to the opposing line.