The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-04-09
TEMPERANCE MEETING.
A Grand Address, Excellent Music and "A
Large Audience.

& evening, was greeted by full house,
Notwithstanding the heavy snow storm
I that prevailed and the wfctehcd travel
ing.
The meeting Was called To order by
/ Rev. Dir. Hanson, and Rev. George Z.
/ Leighton, pastor of the Gniversalist
church, presided.
i With concise and well chosen remarks
the chairman introduced the speaker OF
the evening, Rev. f. i. Capen, D. D.,
of Tufts College, Mass as one who
comes h us with wide experience in the
+ temperance work and active in the war
fare against the saloon.
j President Capen said that one Of the
noblest features of our Republican form
of government is the discussion of inn
i portant questions, and enlarged upon
the educating influences of these public
meetings in the interest of temperance
and good government He referred to
the past and present of the battle against
advanced more decidedly during the last
half century. 1t is Il great question that
/ comes home to every man, woman and
child in every way, the individual, the
family and society as nothing else can.
The use and sale of liquors are the
two phases of the question to which
attention is naturally called. Many peo-
pie have no feeling about the moderate
use of stimulants and yet array them
selves with ardent friends for the sup
preston of the traffic.
There is but one sentiment among
sober minded, candid people about the
open saloon, that il is a menace to civil
lzation. The courts have repeatedly
pronounced it nuisance. The saloon
power is poisonous in politics, it enters
the primaries aud conventions of all
parties. This state of things is omnous
vet must be recognized The saloon
threatens the homes of the people, your
home, every home. No home is abso-
lutely safe from the widespread direct
or indirect effect of this evil No man
can tell how soon it will cross his path
He has "A boy Is years old in whom is
centered love and high expectations.
If the saloon keeper can have his way
he will draw him in and work his ruin.
just here the law comes in notwith-
standing the cry Of sumptuary lcgisla-
ton. 1t does not say what man shall
not eat or drink, but it does regulate
the sale of powder, dynamite, poison,
and it has the same constitutional au-
thority to regulate the sale of intoXcat-
ing liquors and prohibit their sale for
drinking purposes
Dr. Capen said that while prohibition
is enforced in Maine towns gener-
ally, the instances of non.enforcement
are used in Massachusetts, as an argu-
ment against no license Massachusetts
dailies say prohibition cannot be en-
forced-a ridiculous proposition. He
gave at some length the working of the
law and order league in Somcrvillc,
which city has voted no license for many
years. The adjoining city of Cambridge
III Someryille and is now in the no Ii
cense list
Let citizens arise in their majesty, let
e,ergymen Of every denomination Join
the people in war upon the saloon. In
our form of government there is no oili-
Ger 10 dominate the people, the mandate
of the people for law and order must
prevail.
Appetite and greed are the two pow
ers arraycd ON the side of the saloon
The enormous sum of SD, 100000 is in7
Yolved in the traffic in Massachusetts,
and the parties interested are banded
together as one man Liquor agents and
attorneys swarm the Massachusetts LEG
islature 10 uVerawe members, ncvcrthe-
less temperance is making progress in
that state.
Citizens have responsibility Their
duty to get the saloon out of the way Of
every other man and strengthen senti-
ment in favor of law should focaljze the
conviction of the public Enforcement
of the law is the best way to do this.
= We must rise in our might, do our duty
, and leave the event with God.
The address was candid and impress
, i've and received the close attention its
high merit deserved.
At the close of the admirable address
, Rev. MI. Leighton made brief remarks
, emphatieally endorsing the >tandi taken
! by citizens OF the town in favor of en-
forcement of law. This league he said
/ has an important work to do and he
7 urged others to come out and identify
: themselves with the cause and rid the
town of the liquor curse.
q The Temperance male quartctte of
Bangor, delighted the audience with
very entertaining music, responding to
numerous calls for more and more Of
the same sort
Somerset >. j. Court
MARCH TERM 1926,
STRQtfT. J. Jrfsif}iuu