Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-20
CIVIC LEAGUE,
CONTINUED from Page One.)

Purnton of Pennington. the president.
Rev. \. L. Gerrish of Oakland was
called TO the chair and presided during
| the forenoon session.
Owing to the lateness of the hour the
reports from the counties on the pro-
gram for the beginning of the conven-
ton, We're passed over and the MEM
bers listened to the first address by
Hon. c. L. Dunn of Houlton, on ''Prac-
teal Methods of Securing Good Off
ciqls." Mr.. Dunn said in part.
1.-THE Christian Civic League Of
Aroostook county had this subject I'M
der discussion eight years ago this Win
ter The Christian Civic League, COM
posed of some of the best men of the
| county. met at the Court house Jan.
IL, 1898, and after discussing the de-
plOrable condition of affairs in our
county at that time, made the follow
ing declaration:
"In our judgment the election of a
county attorney who is in hearty SYM
pathy with the Maine law. and who will
pledge himself to give his efforts to Il
fair and impartial enforcement of the
same. is the most vital civic need of
our county at the present time
1T was also believed that the united
support Of all loyal citizens of all po-
litical faiths in securing the election
of Il county attorney pledged to the
faithful performance of his duty. would
furnish a moral backing of great value
| to a county attorney so elected. and
would relieve him of all sense of de-
pendence upon the saloon power.
with this declaration and a candi-
date for county attorney pledged to en-
| force the prohibitOry law, we went into
| the 1888 campaign and won out There
has hecn no retreating from this posi-
ton and AroOstoOk county enjoys, we
hel;eye. tho best enforcement of the
nrohibitory law of any county in the
State.
"A good citizen does not always make
| \ ghod official He may be kind of heart,
a good neiShbor, a teacher in the sun
| day school. he may be deacon OF q
| church. ana vet a bad municipal. coun-
| ~ or State official. In his anatomy
there is no backbone. and he becomes
| a bad official from the very fact that
he can be used by the boss. This class
! of men, in my opinion, arc dangerous
! element in any political party. Danger
oue from the very fact that we are new
| er certain whose dictation they VIII
| obey after they have obtained the Of
6cS. We believe the time has come
| when men in this State who wish to 3d-
minister the affairs of the people snail
| define themselves upon the moral and
| economical questions of the day.
| Mr.. Dunn was followed by Rev. ]. w.
| Hatch Of Belfast. who spoke on 1.-The
| Attitude of the Church Toward the LII
ouor Traffic" He expressed the atti-
| tu,le of the church as unalterably OPP
| posed to the granting of licenses to sell
| intnxicants ana characterized the Ii
ouor seller as an unmitigated enemy Of
| society.
| An interesting discussion followed.
| Associate Secretary Prinslc said that
| wherever lawlcSs interests are opposed,
| the leaders of the opposition are menu
| beers OF the church; without the Chris
| tan church there would be no organ
| ization Of the Christian Civic League.
| He believed that the greatest reform
| ORGANIZATION is the Christian church.
| reorganization which seeks co-opera-
| ton with the church is the most cffcc-
| tive" Secretary Prinsle said that the
| influence Of the church had been felt
| in the political affairs in Aroosto"k
| and Somerset counties.
Secretary Emery told Of the stand
| taken by the church in York county
several years ago. He said that the
| business Of the Christian Civic League
| was to get the churches to stand up.
| In response to a question, Secretary
| Pringle said that to his knowledge
| eight clersymen in the State opposed
prohibition.
| Hon. Horace Purinton believed that
the churches were awakening on the
| subject Of temperance.
Secretary c. f. owen said that the
| church cannot render its civic duties
| until it realizes them.
Reports were received from the
counties of AroOstook, Cumberland and
| Hancock. There was a warm discus
sion of affairs in Portland. where it
was alleged there was little enforce
ment under Sheriff Pencil. Recently
a number of dives had been closed I'M
der the orders of the city marshal.
! The morning session adjourned ut
| u 10 O'Clock