Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-21
MRS. AL'THEA G. QUIMBY

NxxkkJs AL w
Lewiston, Me, Sept. 20.-"We rejoice
that the voters in our own State have,
in pronounced manner, expressed at
the polls their preference for high off,
cials who are believers in prohibition
and pledged to its enforcement" said
in referring to the recent State elec-
tion in her address as president at the
opening today of the Maine Woman's
Christian Temperance Union annual
convention.
I'VE have united to stand for and
to work for \State-wide, nationwide,
worldwide prohibition of the liquor
traffic. she said. I'VE are cheered in
this by seeing the nations of the world,
urged by the commanding voice Of sci
ence and active business, moving to-
ward this, our goal"
Touching on law enforcement, she
said: And here rings challenge to
Maine. Maine led in constitutional pro-
hibition, shall she not always lead in
upholding the dignity of law enforce
ment? This is Names privilege and we
of the W. c. T. L. pledge ourselves to
strenuously work to keep and to hold
Maine to the mountain top, not. only as
an enactor of the best law in the land,
but as strict enforcer of that law
The whole world is watching Maine
said Miss Anna A. Gordon, national
president of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, at the first session
of the Maine Womens Christian Tenn
perance Union held here this morning.
/ Miss Gordon heartily congratulated
Maine on the recent election and she
was greeted with cheer after cheer and
the entire convention arose and gave
her the white ribbon salute.
Miss Gordon was no sooner seated than
Miss Clare j. Farnham arose. and said:
Il know you will be glad to learn that
Rockland is going to house cleaning. The
men there have taken matters into their
own hands. the mayor has given his con-
sent; and the marshal has ordered all
saloons closed and all houses conducted
for illegal purposes closed, and Rockland
Is going to strictly enforce the law" This
news was greeted with enthusiastic ap-
plause and the floor fairly rang with the
expressions of the rejoicings of the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union. Miss
Farnham added that she believed the Of
ficials were thoroughly in earnest.
The president of the Maine Women s
Christian Temperance Union, Mrs Althea
G. Quimby of Turner, gave a splendid ad-
dress covering the important points of
the work done in Maine and giving many
statistics. After her talk was over every
member had definite impression of
what had been done. She spoke of the
agitation and organization Of moral sua-
sion and personal example and said:
"Recognizing that the Christian church
Of Maine has ever spoken in no uncertain
| terms in favor of temperance and pro-
hibition, we invite all Christian people
to keep in step with us in working hard
er than ever before to overwhelm the
drink habit. which wherever it exists
serves to retard the Christian life Of a
community and to turn the hearts of
men away from the Divine''
I'VE call upon the Catholic church OF
Maine and Of Lewiston. OF the drink
evil Bishop Ireland says: The great
cause of social crime is drink. The great
cause Of poverty is drink. When / hear
of family broken up I ask the cause
drink. If / 60 to the gallows and ask
its victim the cause-drink. Then I ask
myself in perfect wonderment why do
not men put stop to this thing""
Mrs. Quimby spoke of the prosperity
OF Maine saying: MAINE has $50 de-
positors per 100 inhabitants (bank ex-
annnSif NJ
s244.5O for every inhabitant in the
State. One-third of the people
Of Maine. including the women and
children, have money IN the bank.
Maine is the only State that has mora
savings bank depositors than voters.
At this point Mrs. Quimby spoke Of
the fact that our prohibitory law re-
duces crime and protects our citizens.
She spoke Of the recent visit Of the
warships in Portland harbor and said
that over 1000 sailors were in the city
on 10 days leave Of absence, and dur
ing that time not sailor was arrest
ed not a sailor came in contact with
a police ofYicer and there was no indi-
cation Of drunkenness on The rart Of
those boys while they were in Port
land.
Mrs. Quimby states that the organ
ization would again sen1 In its reti-
tions and resolutions to the Senate and
House. She said. 1T is our de sire that
Maine shall be foremost in the work.
ing for the passage Of the bill for Ma
tional constitutional prohibition She
said to Maine belong the honor Of hav-
ing had the first police matron in the
Union. The Portland W. g. r. U. in
1877. recognizing the need of special,
care for the women who were arrest
ed requested permission of the city
government to place a woman Of their
own selection in charge Of the police
station. the expense to be borne by the
city.
In alluding to the schools, Mrs.
Quimby said there are 144,5s3 pupils
enrolled in the public schools Of Maine,
"a per cent. Of the total school popula-
tion Of the State. one Of the largest