The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-01-05

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advice to our sheriffs but that II behoov-
ed all good citizens to let them know
that their just acts were approved OF and
| to strengthen their hands for their very
arduous tasks In every possible waY.
He stated that there had been an unmie-
taxable moral and spiritual awakening
10 the county during the last two years.
There had been religious revivals n seV-
| eral towns Of the county and other signa
OF spiritual growth. He believed there
had been an interdeprndence between
The suppression OF the liquor traffic and
the growth of public conscience. The
sin OF the times WAS corruption; 1t was
charged that national, state and NUM-
J cipal legislation could be bought. What
was needed was more manhood and the
| election OF more men like Alfred H.
| Lang.
Fred F. Lawrence, in responding to
"The Man and the Hour" in part said
that personal views on questions of ma
tional policy do not disqualify man for
local office entirely unconnected with
party doctrine, though those views be 40
radical or irrational as to repel the mn
orty of voters. Because we differ from
a man in our economic, social and poid-
cal ideas, may we not consistently believe
In his integrity, judgment and Efficiency :
1t Is an indication of the awakening of
higher citizenship that people are coming
TO seek for the man and not for the par
tisan.
The man we meet to honor was select.
ed for bis responsible Office because he
had the confidence OF his fellow-towns-
men and fellow. eitizene, although his
party WAS overwhelmingly In the minor
ity. To the trust imposed in him he has
been unfiinchingly loyal, to his oath OF
office he has been staunchly true.
1t is qualification to any man TO
know that duty of his well done meets
with public approval, but the conecious-
ness that appreciation is sincere is worth
far more than any public tribute or form.
al testimonial. IL is the daily and hour
ly sympathy of his constituents that
strengthens the arm and nerves the
courage of the public official. Upon us
as citizens rests the duty OF giving TO
every sub-official our earnest, sincere
and heartfelt support and assistance in
the enforcement of law, which alone can
guarantee the safety of the community
and the respect for its system OF Justice.
Mr.. Gould explained that Augustine
Summons, Esq, Judge of Probate-elect.
was unable to be present, but that he
had induced L. l.. Walton, brother at
torney, to respond in his place to the
toast, "The Officer and the Attorney :"
Mr.. Walton said he would gladly occupy
for brief period the honorable position
Of Judge of probate, and he called atten-
ton TO the responsibility assumed by the
POSTMASTER as he might find the imper-
sonatiOn so agreeable that he should
seek to continue as probate Judge.
| While temporarily invested with judicial
authority he proposed to pronounce
some judgments, and that chief among
| these WAS that there were people in
Skowhegan who approved of a man who
did bis duty. AS to the attorney and
the officer he remarked that it might not
be generally known that an attorney at
law was sworn official of the court
| but that such was the case and that the
officer had, therefore, right to expect
OF all attorneys assistance 10 the dis
charge of his duty. Mr.. Walton said
that Mr.. Lang had not only been faithful
| and efficient In the enforcement of the
prohibitory law but that he had been a
most satisfactory officer In other depart
ments of his work. He spoke very high
| ly of the care and ability shown in the
service OF all papers entrusted to his
care and stated that this was highly APP
preciated by members of Somerset bar.
He had always kept the court room
quiet and orderly and an agreeable place
| in which to transact business.
Mrs. j. p. Merrill had been expected
to respond to the toast, when Women
Vote" bur, as she was unable to be
present, Mrs. Levi w. Weston was called
upon. Mrs. Weston spoke briefly in be-.
half of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union of Somerset county and for
them took the opportunity to thank
Sheriff Lang for the work he had done
She further stated that il the members
of the w. c. T. U. 10 Somerset county
had had an opportunity to vote, they
would have shown their appreciation in
a very substantial way and that Mr.
Lang would have been reelected by a
handsome majority.
Rev. George Merriam spoke on En-
forcement and the Home He said in
part, that when the topic WAS assigned
him, he having lived until a few weeks
ago in that county bordering on Caseo
Bay, thought he might have appropriate
" spoken on "Non-enfOrCemen and the
Home" But he was glad to say that
| Cumberland county citizens knew some
thing about enforcement during the adj
ministration of chat frari,s and intrepid
sheriff Samuel +. Pearson and also dur
ing the administration of that masterful
and well-poised gentleman and official,
Mr.. Dunn. He had lived in two States,
Kansas and Maine, and he believed the
prohbitory law was an unreasonable
advantage to the home. The home is a
unit and the State is an accumulation of
these units. The home is back of the
State.
We are here to honor the manhood of
one of our citizens. Sheriff Lang worked
to make II as easy as possible for our
men and boys to do right and as hard rs
possible for them to do wrong. He had
had the pleasure OF personal acquaintance
with Mr.. Lang for about a week, only,
but he knew Of him, knew OF his grand
work and of the honor accorded him by
people of this town and county.
He said he stood at the railroad station
on Saturday, when the sot-machines,
gambling devices, captured at Fairfield,
were unloaded and wss thankful for
such n sheriff Temperance is a live is
sue. The work is not yet completed,
nor will be while evil exists in the
world. He WIS glad, ss minister of
the Gospel, to bear cheerful testimony
| of nv