The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-24
Expenses Of Body Have
Exceeded Receipts.
Annual Address Of President
Purington In the Evening.

city yesterday afternoon. The session
opened at ESQ O'Clock when about twenty
members, nearly all of whom were
clergymen, were in attendance. Presi-
dent George c. Purington was in the
chair and called upon Rev. Rollin L
Hack, the pastor of the church, to con
duct short devotional exercises. Thesf
being concluded President Purington gin.
troduced Rev. W. f. Berry of Water
vile, the field secretary. Mr.. Berry read
the report of the treasurer, Horace Pur-
inton of Waterville, who was unable to b.
present. The report showed that since
the league had been organized, March %,
81, up TO the first day of the present
month. the amount of the receipts was
81 ,s02. 30 and the amount of the expendi-
lures was e., OF. 20 The deficit, it was
announced, would be made up by parties
who had agreed to stand by the league.
The expenses of the SECRETARY for the
past year had been $31l.55.
Mr.. Berry then gave a report of the
doings of the league. There was a
guaranty made throughout the state of
the sum of 5000, which was given on the
condition that it should not be available
during the year, he said. ''There was
not one dollar in the treasury when ]
started out in my work. In going about
the state have found out that 1t Is
not wise to tell everything at one place.
Radical utterances have alienated people
throughout the state and my only hope
of doing good is to watch myself. i
have felt repeatedly the need of being
cautious for L am impulsive and naturally
ugly. There have been times when l
would have liked to fling mysalf out
But my trend has been to speak tenderly
and lovingly. My mission Is not one of
denunciation. l have said that II man
accepts an office and then violates his
oath he is dishonest. But when, also,
the citizens fail to take interest they too
are dishonest l have gone through the
state from east to west and have travelled
thousands of miles and have met with
nothing but the kindest of treatment. I
have not yet found an a udience that has
not been responsive. The financial re-
port which has been made may be disap-
lhtNt Nbiit bNSk W oNSuAt
money and have raised about $500.
What are the reSultsg We are not able
to weigh and measure them, but L have
found sentiment which has deepene d
in interest in the work. All over the state
the conscienees of Christians have become
quickened. There is deep seated dis
content among the young people with the
officials. We have tried to educate the
people in certain measures and to appeal
to their loyalty. Until the people are
prepared for the work of the league it Is
foolish to get them to organize The
leagues which have been org anized have
done good work. About the future
want to say few words. 1 think that
the conservative course which has been
pursued has brought men favorable to
the cause. The paper which has been
authorized by the league has been de-
ferred for time. The league needs a
generous financial support. 1t is a source
of embarrassment for the secretary TO
go about the state giving the appearance
that he needs money. The annual MEM
bership plan is good but it should not be
pushed too much. We should find at
least three hundred members in the state
who are willing to give 81 apiece.
came to Portland prior to the municipal
campaign but did not ask any paper to
publish statement of dishonesty of
officials, although the press has been
very kind to me during the past year and
l have no fault TO find. We can use to
very large extent circulars. We are in
need of some aggressive work. The time
has come when the league must be ag-
gressive in order to win and to hold n
certain constituency. Steps TO this end
have been made. Under the nuisance law
twenty citizens appealing 10 judge
can have the case brought to official at
tention. The law also provides that APP
peals can not be granted under flimsy
reasons. Such petition has been drawn
by Hon. Hiram Knowlton Of this city.
seized or had seized large quantity II
liquor. That case will be tested. / be-
| ieye that the type Of work which we
have been doing the past year Is pioneer
work. We need to get as far through
the state as possible. We need to settle
down to a campaign in a certain locali-
ty."
At the conclusion of his remarks Secre-
tary Berry was applauded President
Burlington thanked the secretary for the
valuable work that had been accom-
plished and then the secretary added a
word more. He said that during the year
he had received but two faultfinding let
ters. One Of these letters had nothing to
do with the work and the other was from
a party who wrote for the purpose Of
giving reason for not paying his dollar.
II think that the suggestions of the