The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-16
Sheriff. Elect Pearson
Prominent Figure.
Addressed Public Meeting in
Evening
ESPECIAL TO THE fnEss.I

Brunswick, November 15.-Now comes
the Maine Prohibition Alliance, COM
posed Of those who abstain from the use
of wine, beer and cider, and are In favor
OF political action to secure the enforce
ment of the prohibitory law. In response
to the widely circulated call there were
between 40 and 80 persons In the Town
hall this afternoon when the meeting
was called to order. MIR. w. L. Chapman
Of Wayne presided and MIR. N. II. Wood
bury of Auburn began proceedings by
telling what the new organization pro-
poses to accomplish. According to Mr..
Good Templars has lost Its influence.
Politicians and legislatures no longer
fear It. The Civic League is doing good
work, but its work stops where the politi-
cal line Is drawn. An organized move
ment is neeeed to put in power party
that believes in Prohibition. Orga-
nization is wanted for the great campaign
two years from now, SO that Mr.. Man.
ley, who saw the handwriting on the
wall, may get Is more doses like that
OF the one county impressed on his mind
what 90 years of observation had failed
to put there. With organization, said
Mr.. Woodbury., we believe that we can
satisfy the people two years from now
that prohibition is the rising star Of
politics, and In the future the people
win NOT put in the Presidential chair
man who is partaker of wine, who
nulIities the laws OF Congress and who
permits the sale OF liquor in our new pos
sessions.
Mr.. Woodbury. having thus told what
the Maine Prohibition Alliance is for.
Mr.. Grant Rogers read the constitution
| framed for the state organization and
the county and local branches. The con-
stitutions are long. In the preamble It
is declared that the purpose ia to unite
the temperance element OF the state for
political action. The state organization
is to be composed Of the officers, and
delegates from the county and local alli-
ancss, provided dues have all been paid.
A county alliance will have five dele
gates and local alliance two, with one
additional for each ten degree members
or a majority portion thereof. The
state alliance will meet annually In
October in Lewiston, Waterville. Bangor
or Portland. The officers are to be
president, vice president, secretary, treas
urer and warden, 10 being the warden's
duty to have the hall ready and intro
duce the members. Presidents OF county
alliances are to be vice presidents and
SO by courtesy are to be the members
of the state committee OF the Prohibitory
party. In addition, a chaplain, musical
director and messenger are to be ap-
pointed. The executive committee, com.
posed of the elective officers, may ap.
point a state organizer and nx his COM
pensation. The executive committee is
also to select national and state papers
as organs.
These are the main provisions OF the
constitution of the state body. The local
alliances are to be composed of persons
over IL years, who must take q pledge
to abstain from the use OF beer, wine
and cider, and agree not TO buy Or sell
the same. In addition they may take
what is known as the degree pledge
agreeing to..support the Prohibitory par.
ty and to vote its ticket IL they have the
right to vote. The local alliances are
given the right to institute legal pro-
ceedings under the prohibitory law.
Only degree members are eligible to
office. The secretaries, among their other
duties, are required to keep lists OF tenn
uerancs men, with marks to show to
what party they belong.
The reading of the constitutions was
followed by discussion as to the effect
of the new body on the exising temper
ance organization, Rev. A. 5. Ladd
deprecating anything which would tend
to injure the Christian Civic League,
which figured prominently In the debate.
Nobody took up the cudgels in behalf
of the Good Templar body which is said
to be approaching dissolution In the
winter of a long and useful life.
Rev. A. $. Ladd precipitated the de-
bate when he said that he didn't see
anything in the constitution that re-
feoted on the Civic League, yet the
league had not been long enough IN the
field to show what 1t. could do and he
counselled caution in the matter. Ths
Maine conference has endowed ths Civic
League AMI MIR. Ladd knew that there
was room for 1t. There ID no such united
and earnest public sentiment against the
violation OF the liquor law as against
violations of the laws against burglary
and murder. The man whose watch has
been stolen wants the thief caught. In