Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-17
MAJOR MERWIN TELLs OF HIS KNOWLEDGE OF LINCOLN
They Worked Together on Enanci- patton Proclamation and in Cause of Prchibition-County Prohibitionists Have Open Meeting Hers.

The afternoon and evening. sessions of the Lincoln campfire at the Buck ing ham Memorial on Thursday were attended by many from about the year in the interest of the party work Many were present and from Rhode Island were State Treasurer l.. E. Remington and F. T. Jencks. In the afternoon B. D. Remington | of Colchester presided and spoke on 1 the relation of the prohibition reform to. revival of religion in 8 convincing manner. Ernest A. Smith of this city read the address of Rev. E. B. Smith of Lebanon, who was unable to be present his subject being Why and what political action is necessary to overcome the liquor trafhc." There was a discussion on the eff 1 fectiveness of partisan or non- partisan methods and Duane Griffin of Hart- 1 ford spoke on the national committee meeting.
 | Plans for 1911 were told of by w. L.. Richards of Fairfield county, E. A. | Smith for New London county and l State Chairman Hohenthal for the state.
 l Ernest Allison Smith briefly out | lined the New London county work which is planned for this year. Dur I bitionists are to personally devote l themselves to building up the party and in organizing in each town so that a real prohibition ticket may be put in the field. ; l In the summer they will have open air meetings on the squares and the 1 prohibition policy will be clerly de- fined to all interested.
 1 During the fall tickets will be put I up and general campaign work en- tered into in earnest.
 An effort will be made to raise $2,500 in the county for county work 1 during the year and MT. Smith laid I emphasis on the fact that union of effort was absolutely. compulsory in
 order to accomplish things aSd that action will be carried along under the l idea that in union there is strength. 1 Supper was served by the Norwich 1 Y. w. c. T. U.. and many patr0nized l the home supper.
 l Evening Session. The evening programme went of l moothly, crowning the all-day session with great success. The different ] speakers received their due share of applause, but the main address of the
 evening, that of Major J. B. Merwin, called forth the most enthusiasm. It ], in the rousing songs in an enthusias- l tic manner. Conspicuous in the hall
 was 2 log cabin made by Amos A
 Baldwin, which was the centerpiece for l the table. Many flowers also added to ! the beauty of the setting.
 l Rev. Charles Addison NerthroI started the evenings programme by 1 introducing Emil l.. e. Hohenthal, tfls state chairman of the prohibitionists and delegate to the Chicago congress
 Mir. Hohenthai spoke on the general condition of the party and on the measure now before the legislature l which, if passed, will close the saloons on Christmas and all holidays. Mir 1 Hohenthaps brief address, which occu- 1 pied but five minutes. called forth much 1 applause.
 Mir Northrop then presented Duane
 N. Griffin, another delegate to the con- l gress, who spoke on that meeting. MT Griffin also pleaded powerfully for ab- I solute prohibition, placing no stock ] whatever in local option MT. Griffir | says that suppressing tha liquor traffic l in town here and town there is nc | good and argues that the only way te close the stl0on is to knock down the breweries and distilleries. Then the
 fountainhead of rum will be obliterated and the saloons must out of necessity I great applause.
 1 At this point E. l.. Richards. an l nounced that the Fairfield county pro- hibitionists will hold conference and l banquet at the Y. M. c. A. in Bridge 1 port Tuesday, Feb. 21, and that tai.
 
 Major MerWin Heard.
 After this, MT. Northrop introduced 1 Major J. B. Mefwin as the main speak l CT of the evening and as the old gen. l tleman and personal friend of Ameri.
 ca's greatest son, Abraham Lincoln feebly made his way up the platform he was greeted by a spontaneous burs Of applause
 Major Merwin began his address b. describing Lincoln as that man appear. ed to him on first sight. The speaker interspersed his remarks with humor- ous references and throughout thu evening his wit was the cause of nlucl amusement
 Major Merwin first met Lincoln at lecture in Illinois during prohibition campaign, aksd the power of orator, l possessed by Honest Abe held Merwin
 as we'll as the audience, spellbound