Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-11-30


W. publish ia another column the CON-
municstions of GOV Burleigh to the Secre-
tary of the Grand Lodge Of Cool Templars
and to the sheriffs of certain eounties. The
resolve of the Grand Lodge, which is copied
In the CORES pondence, demands of the Gov
ernor and Council, through the officers Of the
state, better enforcement of the law" and
says the State Government must assume
the responsibility Of the open and
defiant violations of law Il is get
ting to be quite common for well mean
i,g temperance people to charge the Gov.
eruor and Council with all failures to enforce
the prohibition laws of the State Ola like
character with these expressions of the Grand
Lodge is the following. which we quote from
the Good Tepplsrs' Department of a recent
issue of the Biideford Journal; There is
the whole county of Psnobscot that is selling
rum openly that ought to be shut up; there
is the Governor who should take notice of
the women's prayers that have been ascend
ing for months that he would do something
in that county
II must be As 'umed that the author. of
these statements are sincere friends OF
temperance and desire to fix the RESPONSE
bihty where the laws leave it and to do no in
justice. II would seem however. that there
must be an impression prevailing ia Good
Templsr circles that the Governor and
Council have unlimited power to enforce the
Law or not as they please. The only provis.
i'm Of law which gives the executive DEPART
ment of the State any power in the enforce
M mt of prohibition, beyond the power they
possess IN the enforcement of any other law.
10 the following
pom petition and representation of thirty
or more well-known taxpayers in any county,
that chapters seventeen and twenty seven
are not faithfully enforced by county or local
officers, the Governor and Council shall en- |
quire into such representations, and if in
their judgment, they are well founded, the
Governor, with the advice and consent Of
Council, shall appoint two or more consta.
bles for such county, who shall diligently
enforce said chapters. and for tbs purpose
such eonssxbles shall have like powers and
duties As sheriffs and deputies. For such
services such constables shall receive the
same compensation a. SHERIFF. and deputies. -
II will be seen that the Governor 10, per
sonslly, utterly po~eriess to act alone,
The initstory steps for the appointment Of
State officers must be taken BY the public.
A petition of thirty or more well-known
tax, payers" must be presented before any
action whatever can be taken by the Gov
eruor and Council. Then their duty is
judicial. They must investigate the grounds
Of complaint and apply the remedy pro-
vided BY law. Has such petition been
presented to the Governor add Council
Cumberland or Knox. Until such peti ion
|, presented and an investigation asked, 10 ]
it quite just to charge all responsibility upon
the Governor and Council ? The Governor
has already in forcible language, urged upon
the several sherids throughout the State, for
whose election the people Of the different
counties are directly responsible. the active
performance of their sworn duty of vigor-
ously enforcing the prohibitory laws.
That Governor Burieigh 10 6rm friend Of
the cause Of temperance 10 known Of all
men. He has been all his life total ab-
staiuer from the use Of alcoholic liquors of
every kind and description. This ought to
cunt and will count for something in the |
minds Of thoughtful, fair minded people ev-
ervvhere His views upou the fempera nee