The Portland daily press., 1893-11-11
The South Portland Disturbance.
South Portland Nov. 10th,

The South Portland Disturbance,
South Portland Nov. 10th, 1898.
To the Editor of the Press:
Inasmuch as false statements have gone
and sensational newspaper, called the
Argus, saying that popular clubman
was roughly handled by white caps, I
would like space in your columns to
place the matter before the public as it
actually was and not mis-state and mis-
const-ue the matter or adulterate an
ounce of truth with hundred weight of
falsehood as the Argus did-for the Ar
gus should remember that
False reports can please and caiumny
alright,
None but the vicious and the hypocriten
Though ten times worse themselves,
you'll frequent view
Those who with keenest rage will CEN
sure you."
Now the first thing in regard to the
club is the fact that some young men-no
matter who they were-called at the house
and wanted to hire large room in an
unoccupied building which we own, and
we declined to lease it to them. They
again called number of times, and we
still declined. Again they called and
begged me to let them have the room,
representing that they wanted it for a
reading room and club room. Acting as
agent for this house I concluded to let it
to them-which had legal right to do
If they would conduct themselves
properly, and they took the room with
this distinct and explicit understanding
But imagine my astonishment when the
Argus represented them as gam blers and
that the constables were after them.
This was the first knowledge I had of
the matter, and no complaint had ever
been made to me- But on reading the
Cape Elizabeth Sentinel found that the
matter was hoax and the cause of
the whole trouble was nothing but a
friendly game of cards, and I quote from
the Sentinel in substantiation of this:
Malicious and shameful misrepresenta
tions that have been going the rounds of
the public press, in regard to the danger
which threatens us and our families, in
our fair village, and which, sooner or
later,is sure to engullf oursscitizens. and
smirch the character OF any person suffi-'
GENTLY foolhardy to set foot on this side
of the harbor. In brief, shorn OF it's
verbiage, the reason that South Portland
and its people are going to the dogs is
the ISSUED fact, furnished by certain of
our ostensibly good citizens-who ought
to be in better business-that few of
our young men have been guilty of
great breach of the peace in playing
what they-the boys-term harmless
game of cards. All this and nothing
more SO far as we are able to secure any
tangible evidence. Now Eve ubmit, is
it consistent with common honesty to
place every man in the village in the
category of law breaker and nhoodlum?
For the information of the scribe of the
Portland Daily Argus permit us to say
the peaceful and puritan town of
respects except toward his lengthy out
burst in that paper of Oct. Is, (which did
our community the greatest possible in
jury because of its bio d curdling and
sweeping allegations of wicaedness and
vice that are said to be rampant within
it's borders. If the discovery was made
two years ago, as the article states, that
we had in our midst gambling houses
and tipping shops, it is clearly evident
the officers employed have been derelict
in their duty to an important degree in
not bringing the offenders to justice.
This is all I know of their gambling.
have no positive evidence-nothing but
hearsay. But in a country village, where
envy, jealousy, biogtry and prejudice
reign almost triumphant, it is either
supposed or suspected that when more
than two or three young men congregate
that their intentions are to cut UP some
kind of deviltry-that they are in league
with "Old Cloven Foot.n
In regard to intoxicating drinks being
dispensed in the club room, have been
informed that this was not so. Nothing
Intoxicating was kept in the room. On
examination of the three or four bottles
in the room I found they contained moth
ing but kerosene. Not very intoxicating
+ should think
The Argus report that the Young Mems
Improvement Association was organized
especially for this purpose is not SO. It
was organized long before this clubs
fine Pastime Club"is the name of it-or-
sanization was in existence, and was es-
tablished for the general good. Here is
Rev. Mr.. Ross's own words:
cat recent meeting of the Official
Board a committee was appointed to con.
II. lxy;e ;kxs of-