The Somerset reporter., 1896-02-27
Citizen = Meeting.


ment of the prohibitory law among a
large contingent OF our citizens is un
naging. OF course, difference of views
as to methods to be employed is in
evtable among any considerable number
of people. men or women, but in these
meetings there has been apparent har-
mony that comes from desire for the
good of the greatest number, and de
termination to work together for the
enforcement of law and preservation of
the good name of cur town and the veal
of our people.
l.. l.. Walton, Esq the chairman of
the committee, designated to confer fur
with Sheriff Viles, being unavoidably
absent, Lewis Anderson'reported for he
committee briefly stating that Sheriff
Niles was present and would himself re-
port progress made thus far. Mr.. An
derson, as chairman of the committee on
ways and means for that committee also
reported that the time had been so short
since the committee had been raised, and
several of the gentlemen named being
absent, it had not been practicable to
get meeting of all the members and
nothing had been done by the committee,
but his purpose was to get the com
mittee together at an early day.
Sheriff Viles explained what he had
done at Pittsfied, Fairfield, Norridge-
wock and at Madison, as we'll as at
Skowhegan. In Madison a woman and
a boy had been apprehended aud bound
over to the March term. This had not ap.
peared in the papers. In Pittsfield his
deputy is strong temperance man aud
the trial Justice there also has proven
himself to be such, and Pitt sfield people
tell him the saloons have ceased the
sale of liquors for the present at least.
In Fairfield one search aud siezure had
been made, and the people there inform
bin the sale of liquors had been very
materially lessened. A thorough
search at the Skowhegan House resulted
in not finding any liquor and the appear
ance of the bar and surroundings indicat-
ed that there had been no liquors there
for some days. He thought there was
not one-haf the liquor sold in Skowhe-
gan that there was prior to this move
ment for enforcement of the law. Mr.
Viles said he had given the matter his
best thought, and from the first his plan
had been "to strike gait" he could
"pretty nearly keep.
Joseph LaCase said some 20 empty
beer barrels and 10 barrels of empty
bottles had recently been shipped from
this station, indicating that some one
had been selling liquor. The quicker
the town can be ridden of rum the better
for all. He had nothing against rum
sellers personally, but their occupation
he detested.
Mr.. f. G. Narney had doubts whether
liquor selling can be entirely stopped,
but it can be restrained in great
suppression Of the traffic would hurt
trade and injure some individuals, but if
the people of the town at large can be
helped by a few being hunt little, it
would in reality be gain.
w. II. Paine thought We should unite
our forces and work with a will. He
would like to see the law enforced Wig
orOusly.
G. w. Emerson said some of the men
who came into town with loads of shovel
handle blocks and other products knew
where to find liquor, and before they
are here half hour get their breaths
well scented up with something pretty
strong.
Mr.. George Green said he had been
informed there were several houses on
the south side of the river where liquor
was kept and sold, aud later said he
thought it would be Il good thing to look
after packages coming into town by
rail and express.
Charles Murphy said he regarded rum
sellers Il set of towards, aud who ought
TO be about legitimate employment,
believed the business could be wiped out
j. O. Smith said he was not as san
guine as some in regard to wipng out
the traffic. Should every liquor shop in
town be closed, and the men now engag-
ed leave the business, "a new crop would
spring up There would always be rum
sellers as long as evil of any kind exists.
He did not speak of this TO discourage
those engaged in this good work, but to
iucite to more vigorous, persistent, and
determined effort. It's "A life work and
we should enter upon it az such.
DR.. j. y. Merrill, said the medical pro
fession did not use alcoholic liquors as
stmulent to the extent it was formerly
used in cases of shock or collapse
Other agents more effective had been
discovered, and the necessity of spirtu
Gus liquors, as medicine, was greatly
ovrr-rated. Its use could almost wholly
be dispensed with.
Hon. 5. j, Walton was outspoken in
dcnuncialion of the liquor traffic, and
its demoraliZiug effect. He explained
the methods Of enforcing the law, and
some difficulties in finding liquors and