Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-08

De thrown about them; ana that employ
ers should exercise me highest degree Of
care in the selection of everything to he
used in and about their work
Questions of this kind involving the la
bility Of employers. and also questions re-
lating to the number of hours of labor
under certain conditions and ages. are
still being agitated
You should not grsnt legislation in any
case because 1t u demanded by the wage
Gamers on the one side or refuse It be-
the other, but rather in the exercise OF a
sound discretion. and your unbiased judg-
ment. do what you believe to be Just and
! for the best interests of all concerned.
PROHIBITION.
A large majority of the people Of our
State are thoroughly and conscientiously
devoted to the principles and practice Of
temperance, integrity. morality and vir-
our best development and growth. They
believe that the restraining influence Of
our prohibitory legislation has had a
marked effect in Graduating, the evils re-
Sulting from the liquor traffic
Doubtless there has not been full real
| iZation Of what the most ardent and en-
thusiastic advocates of prohibition proph-
esied and hoped, but certainly great good
has been accomplished.
In most of our rural country towns the
groggery is a thing of the past; and we
are moving in the right direction through
out the State. n tt,-
1t is my conviction that what we need
| today is a more active public sentiment
in our larger towns and cities. which will
| enforce the laws We now have. rather
| than additional penalties that will mako
the enforcement more uncertain and diff
4 cult.
We should never forget that it is the
| certainty and not the severity of pun
| ishment that prevents crime. All efforts
/ to increase this healthy public sentiment
until it shall utterly root out and Danish
this blighting curse from our land should
| citizens. We should take no steps back
! ward. Maine. which boasts the prond
F., honor of having been the pioneer in pro-
hibitory legislation. should. and will, con-
1 tinue to be a prohibition State.
SHIPPING.
! Not many years ago the building and
sailing of ships was one OF the most i'm
portant industries of our State. We still
| have the timber and the ship yards. but
Z, they are largely silent. Then we could
boast assplendid merchant marine-the
| finest in the world-owned by American
citizens, sailing under the stars and
| by American seamen and sailors. the sails
of which whitened every sea and con-
tested successfully for the carrying trade
of the world.
| Today the United States are paying
more than $10O. 900 per annum to for
eign vessels and steamships for carrying
! their merchandise
| / have not time to present the vaHous
causes, which. in my Judgment. havespro-
duced this lamentable condition. But it
does seem to me that patriotism. and the
best interests of our country, urgently
demand that. by proper discrimination
1 and encouragement. this important enter
J prise should be revived, and work once
/ more resumed in our shipyards along the
coast.
| merchant marine would furnish a
nursery from which to draw American
seamen with which to man our con-
{, stantly increasing navy.
| The Republican national platform and
most of the Republican platforms in the
various states are pledged to action IN
this behalf. 1t is important that some
, thing be done, and that quickly. The
| Legislature of 1895 relieved this class OF
property of very much of the burdens Of
! taxation that it was at that time sub
! jected to.
l think we have good reasons to expect
I that, through our able delegation in Con-
| gress, which will gladly DO all in It's
| power effective measures will soon be
J taken to secure this much-needed en-
| enlargement and legislation.
FISHERIES AND GAME.
| During the past two years the commits
! sioners of inland fisheries and game have
used every rea sonab Bile effort and adopted
| the best known methods of fish culture.
to more fully stock our lakes, streams
! and rivers with fish suitable for food.
They have good reason to hope and be
these endeaVors.
Already there has been marked in
crease in many rivers and lakes OF the
several varieties which they are propa-
eating This work SO plaiegg beneficial
to our State. is deserving reasonable pc.
cuniary aid and support. which you Will
doubtless be pleased to grant.
Under the most prudent and economical
management It must necessarily cost con-
siderable sums of money to overcome the
many obstacles and replenish our inland
rx-ty ], Gsh trlN "a a
tive to the sportsman, and also produce
excellent food for all.
These commissioners have also for the
past two years taken extraordinary care
to protect and preserve. especially during
close time. the game with which our for
! ests abound, and they have, to great eX-
tent; prevented the indiScriminate and 5 H.
which was so common not a very long
time ago.
The slaughter by men numbering in the
most of the guides, woodsmen and set
tiers upon the outskirts of the forests
recognize the wisdom of our game laws
and quite generally obey them
But there are some persons that moth
ing but the rigid enforcement of these
laws will restrain Hence the evident ne.
cessity of having a reasonable number OF
whom l think should also act as fire war
dens. as it is necessary to protect the
forests from fire if We would have game
at all.
The commissioners report will be pre-
scented to you and explain what has been
done. and what they desire to do. and
what further legislation in their opinion,
is needed to prevent the destruction and
determination of moose and caribou, and
to enable them to properly care for the
game in our woods, and replenish our
waters with fish. &
Many of our best citizens have deep
and abiding interest in this sub3ct They
claim that hunting and fishing NJ our for
ests and streams affords healthy and In
MIGRATING pastime free to all our own
people: that it also brings many desirable
visitors and sportsmen to our State; and
is source of no small revenue and pront
l hata great confidence in the correctness
OF their conclusions.
The seashore fisheries OF our state fur-
nish employment to many thousands OF
people, and should be carefully guarded
and protected against any improper
methods Of fishing so as not TO impair
their productiveness.
Not only should there be adequate laws
and regulations to accomplish this END,
but they should be- impartialiy and thor
oughly enforced and the necessary means
must be appropriated for SO doing.
ELECTION LAWS.
The Republican party demands free
and fair ballot and an honest count.
There are no more dangerous and repre-
hensible crimes than those committed
against the purity and honesty of cleo
tions This may be accomplished by
fraud intimidation. or virtual disfran-
chisement of men who have a constitu-