Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-08
THE CIVIC LEAGUE
CONTINUED from page ~

cons than today Calls are coming to
me from all parts of the State declar-
ing The time is ripe here for organized
effort. Come and help us
During the past year l have visited
13 centers in II counties, and given 125
addresses, held conferences, organized
vigorous local leagues, attended to the
detail work of the Office. collected
Sis. SO in money and edited the Record.
Rev. III. n. Pringle was elected assist
ant secretary of the league, July l last,
and has given himself specially to the
work of raising funds. He had COL
lecied up to the first of May $l5S2.44
and at least $1,000 of this was collected
of persons unreaChed before. lie mas
also given addresses, done much per-
sonal work, written for the local and
State papers and instituted proSecu-
tons.
The highest success Of the work de-
mands the release of the secretary
from responsibility for the league IL
nances ana the employment Of "a
stenogra pher to do the detail Work,
keep the accounts, etc.
The league has been charged with
being a temperance organization only
because it has 50 persistantly directed
it's efforts against the saloon. But
good citizenship efforts must be cen
tered upon some conspicuous evil until
chat is rcmcdied. then give attention to
others. 1t has seemed to the secretary
that the most conspicuous laWlessness
in our State is the saloon. More, that
e !, 1gn-ln.G saloon iS the
greatest menace of the homes and the
most vicious currupter and pcVerter OF
good government. That in securing
the enforcement OF existing laws
against the saloon other dangerous
evils to the State will be largely abated.
Lessons: /. Private prosecutions
instituted through unwilling, rum con-
troled officials are futile except for
educational purposes.
- Officers, especially county attor-
ncys and sheriffs of sufficient honor
ana ability to do the statutory assign
ed duties is the imperative necessity
OF reform.
- The selection and election of
such officials demand the continued
agitation Of continued law enforcement
and so the education of the people to
the performance Of civic duties.
II Present caucus laws and the
present methods of political manipu-
la tors make it impossible for the hon
est, intelligent voter to secure reform
nominations in party caucuscs. Our
efforts should be directed towards the
enactment of a direct primary law
similar to that Of Minnesota. But at
u,
stubornly resisted by party managers.
.. The time is fully ripe for more
prudent political movements in several
counties for county officers. Reform
movements cannot be pushed in the
dominant party caucus. Many who
favor law enforcement will not unite in
party, against their party, but they
Will unite in an independent move
mcnt against against party candidates
and managers. No movement of this
kind can succeed unless it is wisely
planned and vigorously pushed through
organized effort. What Sheriff Pear
son and County Attorney Whitehouse
have done in Cumberland can be done
in any county if such men are elected.
"(6) Our present liquor laws are Sc
riously defective. Amendments and ad-
ditiOns to these laws are impcratively
demanded, hut until the organized SEN
timent OF the State demands vigorous
enforcement of existing laws needed
amendments cannot be secured or if
secured would be useless. When organ
lied sentiment demands the vigorous
enforcement of existing laws il can Sc
cure the enforcement and enactment of
any and all needed law
.'CO The value of the injunction pro-
cess instituted by your secretary has
| been affirmed by the recent decision Of
the law court. The closing of the sa-
| loon and other nuisances is more GER
tain and rapid by this process than Dy
the criminal process.
"(0 The mandamus process may
also be used. Its use in New Hamp-
shire has greatly improved the situation
there. Eut it should be remembered
| that at best all such private efforts to
secure law enforcement are only make
shifts and temporary expedients. The
true end of right effort is not for or
ganization to enforce law in spite of
State officials, but to secure the vigor-
Gus and efficient enforcement of law
Gals selected and backed by organized
public sentiment"
The report of Assistant Secretary
l'ringle was also very encouraging. In.
the report the assistant secretary out
lined the share of the work that fell to
him and what had been accomplished
in his department during the past year.
The report of Treasurer Purinton was
for two years, 1900 and 1901. The re-
ceipts and expenditures for the first
mentioned year were s1S7S.S1 and for
the second year $3555. The league ran
behind bit when it first started but
during the past year has paid expenses
and a trifie more. There is now de-
felt of little less than $1,000 which
has accumulated previous to the past
year. An effort will be made, especi-
ally by Assistant Secretary Pringle, to
clear this up during the coming year.
The debt is chiefly for arrears in Sec
rotary Eerry's salary.
After these reports had been heard
and accepted the Civic League Record,
the newspaper started as the official
organ of the league, came in for a good