The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-16

The most interesting feature OF ths
meeting Of the Ministerial Association at
Chestnut street church yesterday hftsr-
neon was the nddrsss Of the Rev. W. y.
Berry, the Bield Secretary OF the Civic
League, In which he severely criticized
the uss Of wine ut ths banquet In honor
of the retiring Chief Juftios In Bangor
short time ago. Mr.. Berry read the
menu card on which were . number OF
different kinds Ct wire and then said In
part:
1t will be seen that several kinds OF In
toxicatIng liquors ware announced on the
printed menu AZ IaIt Of the banquet,
and were publicly ssrvsd and drank at
the tables.
am not at present disposed to discuss
the question Of total abstinence and read
these officials temperance lesson.
desire now to simply view the event
In the light OF the constitution and
statutes of Maine and the officiai respon-
sibility OF thsss chief officsls.
The people of Maine In their sovereign
power prohibit In the state constitution
the manufacture and sale Of Intoxicating
Houor within their territories, and In the
statute make 1t crime against the state
for any one to KEEP. sell, give away. or
dispose In any manner not provided BY
Law Intoxicating liquors.
Yes at bAnoust given by the legal
fraternity OF Penobscot county In honor
Of a retired chief justice. at which ban
quet the chief executive Of the stats and
six of the justices, Including the chief
Justice Of the state supreme court, were
present "a que sta, menu was provided
and served that necessitatsd In the
pres ence Of that chief officer the open
violation by the hotel PROF rietor and the
walters, OF the state constitution and Ger
tain criminal statutes.
The Penot scot Bar In providing iDtoxi-
eating liq aers for suoh an occasion showed
their contempt both for Law and for the
official integrity Of the chief officials
above named. These ohisf officials of this
state were present at this banquet TO an
ex chief official rs governor Of the state
and iUs;ipes of the supreme court. The
banquet bad teen announced for months.
The attention OF the state was ceBtered
upon It, These chisf officials had been
selected by the people rs ths ohisf execu-
tive end the chief Interpreters Of tie stale
laws Yet on such an occasion, to grStify
personal appetite such officials nccessi-
tatsd the violation of the constitution and
statutes CT the people who had honorsd
and trusted them VITA the highest state
positions and duttss, and so expressed
their ooutsmpt aud disrespect for law,
and SO encouraged lawlsssness.
Such public attitude by suob chief
officials can only be viewed with delight
by the saloon and it's symrathizsrs. and
Justly leads the ssioonists to
think that these CHIEF officials synpathizs
with them Ia their forbidden business,
and give encouragement in Its continu-
ance.
Whatever indulgence our ohief OIL cials
claim as their private right, In their pub
lie acts, SO long as they consent to occupy
official position, they should sufficiently
respect their official integrity ana the
state that honcrs them 10 discourage and
not encourage lswlassness.
What hope have the people Of Mains for
this enforcement Of their laws II such
state Officials thus couDtenancc lawless
uessf Is not the oft charged hypocrisy
In Maire touching this and other laws
cfii eial hypocrisyi