Putnam patriot., 1911-11-17

and arouse the people. Then it's rep resentatives have appeared before com mittees and appealed to individual senators and representatives to do what right-minded people desired. That comparatively little has seemed to be accomplished is not to be won- dered at, for the combined forces of evil, with inexhaustible financial re- sources and tremendous political "puiip. have done their utmost to hinder. Yet 8 number of i'm mportant measures have been carried through largely through this instrumentality. Among these are the excellent provis- ions for placing Ion probation be- ginners in wrongdoing, instead of sending them to the horrible county jails. This plan has saved the state thousands of dollars, besides making hundreds of men and women of mate rial that otherwise would have been thrown away. That "Reformatory3 will soon open it's door of hope Q those who have started wrong is very largely due to this society. And liquor selling and other evils are now under restrictions advocated by the same agents.
 A work requiring far more time, ef. fort and vigilance is that of defeating bills which would work only mischief. Scores of such bills are presented at every session and pressed with almost superhuman vigor, persistency and cruel cunning
 Before the assembly convenes dele gates ot the different organizations working for human betterment meet and decide what measures to favor and what to oppose. The management of the whole movement is entrusted to the Secretary of this society, many | others cooperating with him in every possioleiway. The peculiar political complications in the last legislature prevented much advance legislation. though few leaks were stopped and the grip of some laws was strength ened, On the other hand, more than fifty injurious bills were defeated. In this work MT. Spooner, Secretary of the Union, attended 125 hearings be- fore committees. He was present dur ing all the meetings of the assembly except seven which It was impossible for him to attend. The need ofsueh faith. fulness was demonstrated when, tow ard the close of the long session. two bills that had been turned down ear Her were brought back and the at. tempt made to rush them through Fortunately the friends of righteous ness were ready and they were again defeated. Of course earnest men and women worked with the Secretary. but responsibility rested upon him.
 or Mr. Spooner as a "lobbyistu the Hartford Courant said editorially, Ger. Sl, "He has the respect of all about the Capitol. Even those against whom he pits himself speak in high terms of him. He keeps his word and his temper and is trusted by all who have to do with him.
 nave not space to speak of the in- valuable aid of the Union in local mo- license campaigns or its educativa work, always going on.
 One other fact must not be omitted A year of unusually heavy expenses and light receipts has placed upon the Union an embarrassing debt. This the Directors are very desirous to remove before the end of l9ll A large part of 1t is pledged, conditioned upon seeur. ing the whole.
 After more than twenty years of earnest effort with and tor this society l do not hesitate to say that no other IS ooing so much for the moral ad. vancement of the whole state. l am