The Somerset reporter., 1900-05-17
Temperance Mass Meeting.

A temperance mass meeting WAS held
In Coburn Hall, Sunday evening last,
addressed by Rev. w. F. Berry, secre-
tary of the Maine Civic League. The
main audience room was well filled but
the galleries were not opened.
Rev. E. T. Adams, pastor of the Meth
odist church, presided. "The Rock of
Ages" was sung by the audience led by
Rev. DR.. w. Ii. Spencer, after which he
offered prayer and there was scripture
reading by Rev. Fl. W. Kimball.
Rev. w. F. Berry began his address
by explaining the work he was engaged
In as representative of the Maine Civic
League and the principles and purposes
of the organization. He had spoken 10
all parts of the State and had been re-
ceived with the greatest kindness and
cordially. The order is non. sectarian.
non partisan and Is working IN the
spirit of Christian love by all means In
its power to inculcate q regard for law
ana TO secure its better enforcement.
Conditions, he said, must be taken into
consideration. Ii Is unreasonable to
tain. Whatever Is done In Skowhegan
average sentiment of the whole people.
We must deal with this sentiment as it
Is, strive to guide 1t in the right direc-
ton and make the best Of it.
There is nothing so valuable to Show
hogan as the people of Skowbegan.
Property, business, etc., are of secondary
consideration. The laws for the protec-
tion of the people are of the highest
importance.
The people Of the State are a great
copartnership formed by the adoption
of the constitution, which was entered
into to secure justice, tranquility and the
welfare OF the people. Officers, legisla-
tive, judicial and executive are servants
of the people and are expected to do
! what the statutes tell them TO. They
are not lords and masters but servants,
the people are the sovereigns. We must
have good men, intelligent men aud
trained men TO have good State. In
telligence is needed among the people to
superintend the officials. The affairs OF
the State are lacking in the matter of
supervision. Proper superintendent
promotes honesty, its lack promotes dis
honesty. We should make it our BUSH
hess to know how things are done. The
town also is a copsrtnership of the peo-
pie under the law for public good.
The main structure of government
rests upon law. All privileges are based
upon law. Maine would be almost IN
inhahitable but for law. Courts and Off
GERS protect persons and property.
Because of law and its enforcement we
have government and order. No mis-
take Is so fatal to the we'll being of a
people "a permitting law to be trampled
upon. Ii must be enforced. Those not
enforced are waste paper. Disregard
for law is civic suicide. Violation of law
by corporations or individuals leads to
disregard for law and increased viola
ton. 1t is absolutely essential that the
authority of the State be sustained.
This principle was applied to the pro-
hibitory law and the liquor business in
Maine by apt illustration and incidents
alluded to.
What is the education of your young
men when they pass up and down the
streets of your town and see law violated
with impunity by open saloons. Is 1t
not in the direction of disregard for law.
The speaker said he was not surprised
that jury in this county in disregard Of
evidence brought in verdict acQuitting
a man charged with the crime of killing
deer. He alluded to the action of a
grand jury in Penobscot county refusing
to indict parties who tarred and feath-
cred a respectable man, and also in
Aroostook county refusing to indict
liquor dealers in that county because il
was the custom to indict them but once
year. He deplored the refusal of
Ind. oil Al
upon persistent liquor srllers in AroUs-
took county upon motion of the county
attorney. because the criminals had not
been notified that such motion would b.
made.
ton hinges upon party. The great
liquor trust is a dominant factor, because
1t is thoroughly organized al persistent.
liz looks after its own interests. The
great parties, east, west, north and
south count upon it. Forces must Or
ganize against il.
The liquor interests are thoroughly
organized and work early and late.
They press officers of the law indefat =
gably not to injure them. The good
people of cities and towns do little to
counterfeit this work. The people of
this town should stand together. Make
your officers understand that you want
the bars of this town closed and it can
be done. The saloons of Skowhegan
will go out of business as soon as the
moral force of Skowhegan is organized
and brought to bear upon them. The
sale of rum cannot be absolutely stopped
but IL can he greatly lessened. officers
are not doing all they should in the en-
forcement Of the prohibitory law but the
people are not In condition to throw
stones at them.
The foregoing is a brief report of
salient features 10 the address from
notes taken at the meeting. The de-
livery occupied something more than
one hour and was attentively listened
to. A collection was taken to defray
expenses and envelopes circulated in the
audience to obtain members Of the
league.