The Portland daily press., 1900-12-31
Presentation Speech Was Made By
D. B. Parker.
Mr.. Pearson's Remarks
in Accepting Gift.
Says He Realizes Temptations
Which Surround Him.

The Gospel Mission hall, where sheriff
elect kev. Samuel II. Pearson has been
laboring for over quarter OF a century,
was crowded last night at the usual Sum
day evening service. 1t was the last
meeting OF the century in this hall and
the last which Mr. Pearson will conduct
for two years as private citizen, for on
Tuesday he will be the sheriff OF this
county. The occasion was rendered more
Interesting by the presentation to Mr..
Pearson OF a solid gold badge by his adj
mirers ana friends. The presentation
address was made by Mr.. ID. b. Parker,
who made quite long speech. In the
course OF this he referred to the work In
the temperance Gauss which Mr.. Pearson
has done and Of this browning glory of
the prohibition movement In putting
in the sherir's office for thesfrst time
bsliaver in the prohibition laws Of the
of this state. he then presented to Mr..
Pearson this token OF confidence and
estesm, a solid GOLD badge, bought by the
subscriptions OF friends from all parts OF
the county who have faith inshim, The
badge Ia suitably inscribed and Mi.
Parker said, In closing: eff the oath OF
the office you are to take on Monday at
midnight has been dlsregarded by others
we believe you will not disregard 1t and
we promise you our loyal support In adj
ministering the affairs OF this Office and
In enforcing the laws which were passed
to make our city and our homes safer
and better"
MIR. Pearson IN accepting this gift, said
that 1t was not::a surprise to him. "This
solid gold badge represents to me
solid gold cause. In my opinion there
is no cause so important in the world
today as Is that of prohibition" Mr..
Pearson said that for over quarter OF
century he had been talking prohi-
bition and the people OF Cumberland
county have a right to exrect more from
MIN than from any other man. but
1 want you all to remember that
am but a man, and thank God recog-
nizs my weakness, and following the
Bible can take heed lest fall when
l am confident of my strength. The temp.
tations which surround men in the Office
III am about to assume i thoroughly IN.
derstand. Since the night the ballots
were counted i have asked God for
strength to help me through the coming
two years that l may achieve what has
been intrusted to me.
"When that badge is placed on my
breast on Monday at midnight shall
have the whole power Of the State OF
Maine behind me and believe shall be
liable to give q reasonable enforcement OF
the prohibitory laws made my pledges
to my constituents to do this and 50 far
every pledge have made them has bsen
kept. have been speaking in this hall
"a years and defy any man In Port
land to mention one promise have made
In that ii ne that have not fulfilled. l
know what my enemies are saying, but
/ have fixed my eyes high and l mean
to try to reach the goal. believe that
in the coming two years Cumberland
county will be happier and the people
will be better than they have been In
years. / have made o start that any man
might be proud OF.
81 had 1859 applicants for positions on
my staff and out Of these had seven ap-
pointments to make in Portland. l made
these appointments as 1 had pledged
TO do. / have a brother -in-law who has
had years OF experience In handling pris-
oners ana l wanted to put him in the
jail to help me, but would not to it be-
caass 1 did not want the people 20 say
that Pearson had been giving his fani-
Iy,all the jobs, and so turned him down.
Friends OF Portland, all / ask Of you
is to withhold your criticism until two
years from Monday night and then we
shall see what has been accomplished
and what has happened"
| In conclusion Mr. Pearson accepted the
badge and said he should prize it because
it re presented TO him friends who were
like this badge OF sofia gold.