The independent-reporter., 1910-05-19

nearby towns and cities, consequent
ly this section of the county should be
safe-guarded with more than ordinary
vigor by the officers elected to en-
force the laws.
The facts as far as we have been
able to learn them by careful inquiry
are about as follows:
| The most honored and best inform
ed men of Pittsfield. men who are
recognized as leaders among the citi-
zens, men who walk abroad with
their eyes open and take an interest
! in enforcement, declare that liquor
cannot be purchased in Pittsfield.
During the month that Deputy Sheriff
| Frost was in attendance at court at
Skowhegan pocket peddlers managed
TO do a little selling. but this was
quickly ended when Deputy Frost
finished his work at court and returned
TO the town As for the floating
population" of Pittsfield we agree
that it is easier to float into
dry" town than to float" out of it;
mill town drunkenness often begins
in a distant city with liquors that
never came into Somerset county ex-
cept in man.
There is no question but what the
majority of the people OF Somerset
county have good reasons to admire
the work accomplished by Sheriff
Mooers during his administration thus
far, but please don't criticise Pitts
| field if she objects to conditions here
which can be improved just as we'll as
they can be made satisfactory in 9TH
er towns in the county
Yes; the majority of the people in
Somerset County do admire the work
accomplished by Sheriff Mooers. On
the other hand. we have found no
fault with Pittsfeld nor with the en-
torcement of the prohibition law
there; the Advertiser did that. Pitts
field is all right; Pittsfield has not
objected to the conditions within her
borders Pittsfield says that condi-
tions could not be better. That's
what we want the people of the coun-
ty to know, for it is the truth. We
object to the injury done courageous
and honorable public officer through
the failure of the Advertiser to dis
criminate between sincere truth and
malicious falsehood; we are not crit
icizing Pittsfield.
I'VE have endeayored to explain this
matter in a straightforward manner
| as far as the Advertiser is concerned
and to refute the statement of the
| Independent-Repor that we are
giving our support to the beginning
of dishonorable campaigning by pub
! fishing what any OF our citizens
choose to criticise in our county Off
cials, by referring our readers to the
following petition signed by men who
are in position to know If the con-
ditions regarding the liquor question
in Pittsfield are entirely satisfactory
Pittsfield Me-, May II, 1910.
| To John A. Mooers,
Sheriff of the County of Somerset.
We, the undersigned citizens of
Pittsfield in the said County in view
of the great amount of drunkenness
! III llc lOWH WtthiI liC locl iV"
months, respectfully request that you
investigate the matter of the illegal
sale of intoxicating liquors in the
town and see If conditions cannot be
improved:
Clarence e. Frost, Merchant.
e. G. Bryant, Dentist.
l.. l.. Libby, Shoe Dealer.
T. M. Griffin, Physician.
Ira d. Clark, Merchant.
E. X. Jordan, Minister.
G.. w. Huff, Carpenter.
George L. Rogers. Farmer.
c. S. Coffin, Dentist
o. II. Drake, Attorney.
John G. Chapman. Weaver.
C. B. Haskell. Postmaster
o. w. Witham, Clerk.
T. E. Getchell. Hardware Merchant.
chant.
J. S. Haseltine, Plumbing and Heat
ing.
F. E. Mayo Merchant.
J. w. Manson, Lawyer.
S. r. Haines, Woolen Manufacturer. |
S. M, Raymond, Real Estate Dealer.
e. E. Libhey, Lumberman.
w. A. Taylor. Merchant.
George II. Hunter, Retired Mer-
chant.
F. w. Briggs, Supt Woolen Mill.
F. r. Smith, Woolen Manufacturer.
l.. NJ. Lord, Sash Manufacturer.
Chas. c.. Chandler, Mill Overseer
L. H. Appleby Contractor.
w. w. Cook, Mill Overseer.
Walter G. Morrill,, Livery Stables.
Lester Cornforth, Clothier.
A. H. Cornforth.
Edwin A. Porter, Physician"
Sheriff Mooers spent a day in Pitts
field last week visiting the signers of
this petition, and saw the majority of
them either singly or in groups before
he left the town. They declared that
the petition was not signed by them
while laboring under the belief that
proper enforcement was not being
given in Pittsfield, at present, that
liquor was not to be bought in
Pittsfield, and that the present
sheriff's aggressiyeness was fully
appreciated by the citizens of the
town. 1t Is evident that many sign
ed the petition for the sake of show
ing their stand in prohibition mat
ters, that some signed it without un
derstanding it's import A mans