Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-05-04
CIVIC LEAGUE.
Annual Meeting Of 0rganiza-
ton Held at WaterviIle.
Unusually Large Attendance and Much
Interest Manifested.
Business Transacted.

The annual meeting of the Maine Civic
League was held in this city, Tues
day, and there was a good attendance
at the meetings during the day and
evening. The morning session was
opened at 10.45 o'clock. by President
Purington, who called uron Rev. J. w.
Hatch of Belfast, to offer prayer.
The chief business of the morning
session was the hearing of the reports
of the committees that have been at
work IN the field during the past year.
Rev. II. n. Pringle was called upon
first and gave an account of the work
which has been done In his section of
the state. In beginning, Mr.. Pringle
said that three years ago Auburn was
the only city in Maine where there was
anything like enforcement of the liquor
law. Now there is enforcement in IL
cities and more than 60 towns in the
State and the work of enforcement is
going steadily forward. Mr.. Pringle
said that he does not expect to see the
sale of liquor stopped. but that it sale
has been greatly Curtailed and the
chances for people to form the drink
habit greatly lessencd. The people
are getting Interested iii the cause OF
temperance and striving for the en-
forccment of the prohibitory law, and
officers elected are doing more than
ever for its enforcement. The attitude
of the court has changed and sentences
are being bestowed on offenders. Mr..
Pringle said he had been unable to find
a state officer or organization working
for resubmission.
Hon. Hiram knowfton was called on
for statement of the conditions in
Portland and that section. Mr.. knowl-
ton said that Portland is in a bad way
for enforcement of the prohibitory law.
Restrictions have been placed upon the
sale of liquor, making certain hours in
which it can be sold, but many subtle
fuges are resorted to by the dealers and
some of them have several places of
business. Mr.. Knowlton said that the
outlook for enforcement was favorable
with the coming elections in the county.
Rev. j. w. Hatch of Belfast was
called upon to tell of the conditions in
his section. Mr. Hatch said that there
has been no enforcement in Waldo
county for 10 years. that the people are
not intcro stcd and that the county off,
cans do little towards enforcement. In
Soarsport. Frankfort and a few other
towns there has Eccn Il public senti-
! mcnt for enforcement and this has
! helped to make those towns fairly free
: of the traffic.
Hon. II. T. DaEgctt of Milo told of
the conditions in Piscataquis. Mr..
| Daggett said that efforts toward en-
! h,,f n
great deal of liquor is brought into the
county by express. in boxes. jugs, and
other vessels. and until this traffic was
stopped little could be done toward en-
forCcm"nt.
| Samuel NOSc was called upon for a
statement If the conditions in Somer-
set. Mr.. Vcsc praised the county Off
ccrs for the sincere manner in which
! they went about the work of enforce
mcnt. The sentiment among the people
was good and the towns in which had
hcen the worst offenders were practi-
cally free from the traffic in liquor.
| Hon. G. j.. Dunn of Houlton, was
greatly pleased with the work of en-
forcemcnt in Aroostook county. Mr..
! Dunn said that there is now not no
tel bar or saloon doing business OPEN
ly in the county. but that some IL
quor is sold in kitchen marrooms and
other hides. The citizens are for en-
forcemcnt and the offenders are given
heavy sentences. There are many slot
machines in the county and they are a
great evil.
Horace Purinton of Watcrville. told
Of the conditions in Kenncbec county.
He spoke of the progress Of the work
| since the league was formed seven
| years ago. Mr.. Purinton said that the
enforcement in kcnnebec is very good,
and that the sentiment of the people is
| almost wholly for enforcement.
The following committees were ap-
pointed: On nominations: Hon. II. f.
| Daggett of Milo; Hon. c. f. Dunn of
! Houlton; Rev. c. f. Owen of Water
vile Committee on resolutions: Hor-
) acc Purinton of Watervile; Rev. r. G..
Whittemorc of Waterville; Rev. ii. N.
/ Pringle of Eastport.