The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-09-10
About Voting.

NC haEe lew words 10 say 10 hepub-
lieans in regard to voting, Monday next
The Republican ballot as an entirety
should receive the hearty support of
every member of the party. Ii there is
any virtue In party organization, there is
propriety in standing by the action of
nominating conventions, once they are
fairly held and the platform adopted a
sound one. The Republican nominees
upon the official ballot this year were
fairly nominated 10y delegates duly
chosen and in conventions duly called
and held, and. if we mistake nor. the
nominations were in all cases made u
unanimous upon motion of representa-
tives of defeated candidates, where there
were such. Therefore, Republicans who
entered the convention or who were rep
resented in convention by delegates are
in honor bound by their work or the
work of their delegates. This is politics
and good politics as we understand it.
We are led TO these remarks because of
ticket, that of sheriff on the Republican
ticket. Sheriff Niles is a capable, efiei-
ent officer, careful in the serving of pre-
cepts, civil and criminal, and in perform
ing his official duties.
He has not done as much in the en-
forcement of the Prohibtory law as
I 81 Al. nh ha OH h, i,
/ but, with one or two exceptions. he and
his deputies have done whatever has
been done without aid from others. He
has sworn out his own warrants, with
few exceptions, and but two or three
complaints in due form have been made
to him or his deputies aud on all of these
we understand he has taken out warrants
and the warrants based upon these com
plants have been successfully served.
Beside this he has made other success
full seizures, more, we are informed. for
the year past than ever made before by
any sheriff in somerset county for like
period. He has also, as the law
grand Jury at the different terms of
supreme court held here during his
term, the names of liquor dealers in the
county who have taken out L. 5. licenses
to sell liquors, and also at these terms of
court has given names of witnesses to be
summoned to prove sales against dealers
In nd h.,
found but in others, especially at the
last term of court, the grand jury failed
10 bring in indictments. Whether this
action was right or wrong on the part of
the jury, sheriff Viles did his duty in the
premises, all he could do.
In the matter of search and seizure
process, we understand the police and
constables of our town and other towns
in the county have equal authority with
the Sheriff and his deputies and they can
do Just as much as he eau. They have
done noThing whatever, while Mr.. Niles
has doEe much; and yer the blame for
rum selling is placed wholly upon him.
believe, think it necessary to bolt the
party ticket and vote the Democratic
ticket in whole or in part, for the sake
of Furnishing the one officer in all the
county who has done anything consider
able for the enforcement of the prohibit
tory law the past year.
NJ, osna.ialI,, mill tb,r, n,-a;I
course of voting for man on the free
silver coinage, l6 to plank of the Chi
cago convention and platform which
has in it the following anti-prohbition
plank, adopted by the Somerset Demo-
crazy, July |, 4. D. 1896:
"ReSolcod. That while we believe in
high license or local option regarding
the sale of spirituous liquors that while
the present prohibitory law remains on
our Statute books we believe in the
strict and rigid enforcement OF the
same.
This resolve was framed for the eX-
press purpose Of placing in nomination
Mr.. \. II. Lang in opposition TO Mr.. +.
2. Niles for sheriff. IL declares publicly
and specifically in favor OF high license
or local option and, consequently,
against the present prohibtory law.
The party declared against the law but in
favor of strict aud rigid enforcement of
it. Outspoken enemies of the law, it is
fair to presume that the Democrats who
made up this convention want it repeal
ed and believe rigid enforcement is the
most effective way to bring it about
Mr.. Lang and his plank in the Demo-
cratic platform are inseparably connect
ed. Ii was made for him to stand upon
ant Whoeyer votes for hun upon this
plank, votes in favor of high license or
local option" The first part of the re-
solve is the real sentiment of the free
silver faction of the party that control
led the county convention; the last part
was put on for etlect-to catch votes.
1t does not seem possible that any Re
publcans in Somerset county desire to
become assistant Democrats in this im-
portant campaign, especially when do
ing so involves voting in favor Of high
license or local option