Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-02
SKOWHEGAN PEOPLE
To Hold Temperance Mass Meeting in
Coburn Nall. Today.

Skowhegan, April 1.-(SpeciaD To
morrow. 4 grand mass meeting of the
temperance people of this town and
vicinity, will be held in Coburn hall. 1t
appears to be necessary at this time. in
the minds of those who believe in the
prohibitory law.
The annual meeting of the Skowhe-
gan Village Corporation is to be held,
next Saturday. at which time the tenn
perance people propose to make a fight
for municipal control. In the minds of
the opposition it is another case Of the
church in politics. 1t also appears that
the Civic League formed here, last fall,
is composed in the most part of mem
bers of the Methodist church and the
pastor. Rev. u. c. Wentworth. is the
leading spirit in the war against the
rum shops" 1t is plain to be seen that
Mr.. Wentworth has made himself de-
cidedly unpopular with certain ones
and the meeting Saturday will be one
of the battle royal order.
For some years past it has been the
custom of the corporation to elect, be-
sides the board of assessors, clerk,
treasurer and collector, chief of police,
and that officer in conjunction with the
board of assessors have appointed the
police officers.
1t is here that the hitch comes. this
year. The temperance people not being
satisfied with the enforcement OF the
prohibtory law, have taken on the task
of elccting such officers as will best
serve their purpose. Among the men
mentioned for assessors by the tenn
perance people, are ~. II. Lang.
George Nay and r. L. Mitchell. Mr..
Nay emphatically informed the Jour
nal, Tuesday, that he would not be a
candidate. and if elected contrary to
his orders to the committee on nomi-
nations. would not serve.
w. H. Paine, who as a constable FOR
several years, created so much of a
sensation. an account of which was
published in fu.. in the Journal ut the
time by closing the hotels to the pub
lic because the proprietorS would not
obey his orders to take out victuallers'
| licenses. is to be the man the temper
ance faction will try to elect as chief Of
police. next Saturday.
The opposition are not at all back
ward in saying or making the claim
that the church is going to try and run
municipal affairs; that the most of the
rumpus is caused by Mr.. Wentworth
whom they think is over Jealous. and
nearly all the leaders and candidates
for office are members of Mr.. Went
worths church.
1t is plain to be seen that the move
ment to gain control of municipal af
fairs is not among any considerable
number of the business men who have
the greatest interest in sich affairs
but rather the spirit of opposition to
this move of the Civic League comes
from that class of citizens.
II must not be supposed that the
candidates of the League are not bust
ness men. Mr.. Mitchell is one of the
best-knovn citizens. He is one of the
proprietors of the novelty wood works
of r. l.. Mitchell & Son, the largest of
the kind in the State Mr.. Lang is ard
has been for number of years
prominent n1arketman. and Mr.. Nay.
should he finally consent to be can
didate. is a member of the present
board of selectmen of the town.
Of the present board of corporation
assessors, the two first mentioned will
again be candidates. George S. Webb
has for many years been a groceryman
and for the past Is years has been
member of the board of assessors.
L. c. Emery. the second member IF
the board. was formerly a merchant.
but of late years has lived retired from
business and has. for the past seven
years, been on the board
j. M. Arnold, the third member. is a
business man and for several years has
served as an assessor.
1t is expected that J. Smith Nutting
will be the candidate for chief Of police
on the part of the CONSERVATIVES 1t
is in the interest of the necessary boom
to the cause that the mass temperance
meeting for tomorrow night is to be
held. DIR. Chaplin Of Tufts college, will
be the principal speaker and there viii
be music, both vocal and instrumental.
TO lend enchantinent to the occasion.
In the words of well-known lawyer
resident:
1T will be the hlamedest hottest
fight in the history of the corporation"