The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-11-24
START MOVEMENT
FOR A BETTER
BENNINGTON
Large Mass Meeting at Conrgre-
gational Church Last Evening
OUR PEOPLE AWAKENED
Rev. Henry Pringle Of the lnterna
tional Reform Bureau Speaks
on Christian Citizenship

Upon the invitation OF the clergy
and a few representative citizens,
Rev. Henry n. Pringle, Assistant
Superintendent of the International
Reform Bureau, with headquarters at
Washington, d. c., came TO this VII
lage last Wednesday for the pur-
pose of studying conditions and find
ing out how far the law was observ-
ed in Bennington. With his practic-
ed eye and fifteen years experience
in reform work. il didn't take Mr.
Pringlc very long to ascertain that
Bennington was wide-open rs re
CARDS gambling places and the SO
called slot machines" and that Ger
lain dealers had been, for long
time, selling cigarettes to minors
Mr.. Pringle's first appearance In
public here was mt the Second Con
gregatonal church Sunday morning,
when he delivered a helpful address
on Christian Citizenship" In the
evening. mt the same church, he
spoke to a mass meeting of our ctr
Zens, taking for his text the words
in the 18th. Psalm, 9th. verse, 20
how love | thy law. He showed
rst that the word Law" meant to
he Hebrews all that was embrace,
in the religious and civil ordinances
they were one, That many rule
were established to make the law
more effect, rules concerning SAM
tary and moral obligations. duties L
society, the family, the nation. Laws
were broken because people lovec
nc, the Law. a desire to cheat, I,
olay unfair 10 get something foi
nothing, to take advantage of the liz
norance of others. to not give ecu.
velent for money received, wer
lmong the reasons for people break
ing the laws that pertain TO mora
welfare. He showed that there wer
conditions existing in Bennington
that were not met with in many vi
lagos Of this size In New EnglanC
He referred to ST. Johnsbury,
place a trine larger than this village
which had not. to his knowledge,
gambling device IN operation, nc
was there gambling slot.machin
to be found. MIR. Pringle seemed H.
clined TO put the burden OF the e.
listing conditions upon the citizens
rather than upon tho officers. sayini
that, were the people OF Bennington
10 demand tho enforcement of Law
Il would be enforced. He told
gambling places conducted In th
open. so TO speak; of poker room
supplied with regular gambling out
At. OF boys who told of having pun
chased cigarettes of certain dealeri
for a period Of years, boys under
twelve years of age; of boys. mere
children. who habitually patrouize6
gambling devices. such as slot ma
chimes and card lotteries. He recon
mended that our citizens. individual
". request the proper officer to have
these sources OF evil removed, anc
thought that if enough of the people
did this, all traces of gambling
would be speedily stamped out. He
read the Law regarding the games o.
chance which required the putting
up Of money. and also the law regu
'a'ing the sale of cigarettes to min
ors, both of which seem to be far
reaching enough TO prohibit any OF
the things referred to.
Mr.. Pringlc spoke OF the high
moral standard OF the village. Of the
pride taken in the educational work
of he refinement of our people. the
natural beauty Of the surroundings.
the interest in village and county
Improvement, the work OF the Civic
League. our finely equipped churches
and schools but expressed surprise
that with all these, NJ should he
satisfied to allow conditions to exist
here that were so decidedly opposed
20 the highest condition Of law and
order.
The address. which lasted an hour
was listened TO With rapt attention
and could not have failed 10 be most
effective. Mr.. Pringlc is q man who
does things and Is not given to over
much theorizlng. lie worked in the
state OF Maine Tor many years and
did more TO bring about the enforce
ment Of law in that state than an,
other one person. His manner of
procedure is gentlemanlv. yet firm
diplomatic. yet effective. People
soon recognize that he IS dead in
earnest and respect him. even