Norwich bulletin., 1910-04-20
SEVERAL SPEAKERS HEARD
 ON PROHIBITION QUESTION
Afternoon and Evening Sessions Held in Bill Block, Arranged by E. Ali son Smith,

A school of practical politics for New London county was held on Tues day afternoon and evening in room 2 Bill block under the auspices of the New London county prohibitionists with an afternoon session from 130 to | and an evening session from 7.30 to 9.30. The papers and addresses with discussions following covered their topics at length and in an informing g way.
 Rev. Eugene B. Smith of Lebanon was the presiding officer in the aft ernoon. reminding his hearers in his opening remarks that this was Lex ington and Concord day and that the prohibition party was to interpret lib- erty in new way, liberty from cor ruption and graft which people are no longer willing to tolerate, and that men were to be judged by what they do, not by what they say.
 How to Increase the Circulation of Party Papers was the topic for a dis cussion led by William Thomas Curry of Lebanon and was followed by Ed ward Pollard of Stonington on the subject. Why Prohibition Party? He developed the point that the prohibi- tion party is necessity, as both the republican and democratic parties are license parties and cannot have the support of advocates of prohibition.
 Methods of Enlisting Young Men in Party Building was taken up by Ja- son L. Randall of Groton- and was fol- lowed by a well rendered recitation, The Hero of the Tower, by Miss liar riet p. Hewitt of Lebanon.
 Local Option a Hindranee.
 Frederick L. Hall of Westerly and John M. Dorman of Stratford were the speakers upon the topic of Local Option. MT. Hall was opposed to To- cal option because it left the big cit ies as the centers of the liquor power, and he declared that the efforts of the
 ~4<~x l-<, lz- result in the liquor traffic. They were working along the line of least resist ance. He dwelt upon the need of a great leader for the party, to be rais- ed up by the hand of God.
 Mir. Dorman dealt with the good re- suits attained by the state wide pro- hibition law in 1855 and 1856, giving the testimony of governors of the state as to its beneficial effects. Local option, he said was the result of re- publican party politics. for any polit ical party which has the power of control over legislation can justly be held responsible with any public pol icy during their period of control. The selling and manufacture of liquor is a moral wrong aud about it there should be no alternative nor should it be left to a show of hands For party prohibitionists to transfer effort and means to the local option plan is to defer the day of success for the prohibition party plan-
 What the Legislature Did
 After another reading. Whistling in Heaven, by Miss Hewitt, Emil l.. G. Hohenthal of South Manchester, chair man of the Connecticut prohibition ex- ,ecutive committee, spoke upon The State Legislature He said in part:
 The last general assembly was con sidered by those, who by long experi- ence in legislative matters were com potent to judge to have been above the average, and yet when we consid- CT some of the measures which were defeated we have been wondering ever since, Why?
 Though there were many Christian men in the legislature of 1909, and quite a number who were leaders in the church, it was an exceedingly rare thing to hear an appeal based on the high obligations resting on its mem bers to conserve the morals of their people and their constituents.
 Scores of bills were introduced for the protection of rabbits, wood duck, fish and innumerable other game. and many of them enacted with severe pen alties but the protection of the homes of our people and our boys and girls seemed often very remote from the minds of our legislators
 As regards prohibition legislation passed in 1909. That which stands perhaps conspicuous is the closing of saloons on Christmas day. This was fTot accomplished easily, although one WOulQ suppose tadL lfAC 0Sty WI4Sh YSf commemorate as the natal day of our Divine Lord, the liquor traffic would be willing to keep their hands off. To the credit of some liquor dealers, this was true, but not so with the brewers Closing saloons at 10 D. m- was en- acted, but towns still have the option to keep open until 12 D. nl-
 Turned Down Request for Prohibition
 Vote.
 The request for the privilege of vot- ing for a state wide prohibition bill, though endorsed by over 5000 sign CTS, was turned down in cold blood by our republican legislature with the remark of your own Senator Brad ford of Montville of the Twentieth district who when making his report, and pressed to give the reason for his unfavorabIe report, replied that ''the committee did not believe it could be enforced
 If there is a democrat here. and trust there are I want to say to you that Senator Bradford's fellow citizen of Montvi1le, Hon. Charles s. Com stock, chairman of the democratic state committed, appeared as counsel for Norwich liquor dealers for a change in the law which would have permit ted the continuance of the saloons in the rear of the Methodist Episcopal church in this city, if Norwich had voted no-license last fell. Such a bill was favorab1y reported and passed, but vetoed by the governor.
 The next legislature is now in the though the election is six months hence. The agents of Senator ana farmer Gov f@eorre p