Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-08
THE CIVIC LEAGUE
Opened Its Annual Convention,
Wednesday, at WaterviIIe.
Reports on Work in State New
Board of Officers.
Address by Sheriff Pearson Of Portland
in the Evening.

WutcrNiile, Me, May 7.-(SpeciaD.-
The annual meeting of the Maine
civic League opened in the Baptist
church. Wednesday morning. There
WAS q fur attendance for IN opening
session. The weather was very unfa-
vorahlr for the meeting, there being
4 cold, driving rain storm through the
forenoon that was enough to keep the
most ardent cold water man Ill home
Still good number faced il ana We're
present when Rev. II. X. Pringle of
t,ustpuIt the-issistant secretary OF the
Lru@ue, opened the morning session.
Thc tilst feature of the program was
the round table which was conducted
~ MI. PrinGle. The general subject
Under discussion was The Best
Methods Il Work" The discussion
Was informal ana interesting. Reports
We're r"ceiyei regarding the conditions
in various parts Of the State ANA mat
tcrs d! general interest to the League
were considered.
TIL" reports of conditions were on
the whole encouraging. A revival Of
interest in enforcement WAS noted by
many of the speakers. The opening
session WAS I'm informal get together
meeting Tilt which the members settled
down into their places for the work
to come at the afternoon session
which vas made the principal one Of
thc meeting.
Thu afternoon session opened at 100
There Mds Il much larger attendance
III this session ana there was much
business transacted and many things
of interest and Importance We're dis
guessed. President Purinton presided.
The FIRST thing was the report of the
secretary, assistant secretary and
Treasurer. The report Of Secretary ".
z. Berry was as follows:
1T is three years since your secre-
cary entered upon your work They
nave been years of sowing and reap
Ing. Three years ago apathy and in
difference largely characterized the
state in its attitute toward certain
species Of lawlessness. This attitude
WAS al"rminsiy appalling because it
Was also OF the moral forces.
The movements of the League Were
lt til=h characterized by the press as
Y suasm Of virtue The spasm long
since became chronic and victories
scarcely hoped for have been achieved.
Ducn Iawlessness has been largely
driven out of many centers, such as
patten, Calais, Saco. Freedom. Buck
sport. Mechanic Falls, SkoWhegan,
Ninterport, Hampden, Damariscotta
Bucllsport Cherryfield, Millbridge,
Cumberland county: large victories
nave been won in Aroostook Washing
ton and Franklin counties. while vigor-
Dus and winning fights have been
waged in many other centers and the
onward movement becomes daily more
widespread and vigorous
Public sentiment has become arous-
Cd and aggressively active all over the
State. Several counties are rife for
Il movement such as elected Pearson
in Cumberland county and the press
of the State, excepting only the BAN
sor Commercial, has long ceased to
Criticise, and has also commenced to
commend the 'spasm of virtue ana
10 advocate the cause of law enforce
mont. There has been decided
change among the dailies of the State
but among them all is the insistent and
accomplishing attitude Of the Lew
iston Journal against saloon lawless-
ness.
MY fingers, for three years, have
been on the pulse of the State and
never during that time has it beat
stronger ana steadier for civic right
CONTINUED on page %