Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-07
Seth May Speaks
To Capacity House
About Prohibition


c'ous supper was served in the ves-
try OF the Congregational church to
over TO people. members new and
old OF the Woman's Christian Union
OF Waterville. There were present a
few gentlemen. two of whom are
honorary or associate members of the
organization paying dues but exmpr
rom actlve work since this Is a
Momans organization. AS guests at
Ihe supper We're also Hon. Seth May,
Deputy prohibition administra tor of
Maine and several of the clergy If
the city, also Mrs. Fred D. Card of
Alton Bay, N. H, past president Of
otratford County, N. H. w. C. T. u.
VINO mas been very active in temper
ance work in New Hampshire for a.
number of years. At the close of the
supper the president, Miss Cora Lin
coin called the two competing cap
tains, Mrs. Theresa Politely and Mrs.
II. May Lawrence to the floor and
asked them to call the names of the
! new members, which they did in turn
ana the president pinned on each a
badge indicating their membership.
1t developed that each captain had an
equal number of new members. "a,
| making total new enrolment of As
members during the contest. AS
each woman went forward to receive
a handclasp and badge from the
president, hearty cheers We're given.
Brief after dinner speeches were
called for by the chairman and Mr..
| May responded by saying it was a
very CONSPICUOUS thing for such g.
contest to be held and was pleased
that this organization was so active.
A1~e r1 fro IT IL,
said this was one of the best meet
ings of the kind she had been happy
| enough to attend, and in her talk re-
ferred to the placing of Frances Will
lard's statute in the hall of fame at
| the U. S. Capital, by the State of IL
linois. Her talk was of interest with
| many points of information.
The Rev. William Smith spoke
| briefly in appreciation of this meet
ing and the supper. The Rev. Mr..
Jones congratulated the captains on
| their good work.
At the supper cake was cut with
the letters w. c. T. u, on the top
and served to all those present.
Those present at the supper and a
considerable number from outside
who had arrived to hear Mr.. May adj
! journed to the boys club room which
| was filled to capacity to hear the
| speaker on prohibition. Mr.. May
said in part that as an evidence of
the crime wave and present condi-
ton of affairs all over the country
witness the fact that a few nights
. ago, while a family of seven were
sleeping in their home in Massachu-
! sets, the house was blown to pieces
! by dynamite because it contained a
witness who had testified against
two murderers.
1 Every paper contains on its front
page an account of increasing num-
Der of hold-ups and murders. The
situation is ominouS. 1t commands
you to awake. 1t summons you from
! thoughtless ease. The ship Of state
moved as you direct it's course. Gov
eminent by the people as whole Is
struggling for existance in the face
of individual selfishness. We culti-
vate in our children love of luxury
and send them into the world expect
ing ease and wealth. We seek to
, restore obedience to law while we are
educating our children by indulgence
in place of discipline and we must
remember that by our acts OF today
the secudity of our Government to-
morrow will be determined. He said
further that the 18th amendment was
simply an attempt by the American
people to fulfill a solemn ophsatloh
which they owed to the citizens. In
regard to his work he said. I'VE are
making progress. Never before at
this time of year has illicit alcohol
commanded the high price it now
brings in Maine. Perfect harmony
and the finest cooperation exists be-
tween all branches of federal and To-
cal governments engaged in enforc-
ing the liquor law"
At the close of his talk Mr.. May
offered to answer any questions from
the audience and several were ask
ed. bringing very Illuminating replies
of much interest to those present:
During his administration he mad
100 to 1900 cases in court and only
four escaped conviction so that when
a man is caught he has only four out
of 1900 chances to get off and now
Maine is on the map in Georgia
through the number OF people rom
Maine in Atlanta prisons in the past
few wears.