Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-07-12

courts, we favor its abolition in all forms
OF criminal procedure.
We favor a revision of the existing sys-
tenn OF taxation in such manner as will
more equitably distribute the burden OF
pupllc expense among the taxpayers
pacing upon the owners of wild ands
railroads, public service and other cor
porate franchises a more Just valuation
tnan now exists under Republican assess
Inent, and relieving the farmer home
uwMher and artisan to some extent from
tne present excessive -leyies n"
we believe that the people should have
me right to choose those who have the
power OF granting valuable franchises,
an,n mn we favor the election of railroad
n".iimissioners no.l by popular vote, and op-
Pose tneir appointment by the Governor
uHuer umr the Influence of a corrupt ring of
u u,Ge holders and the pressure of rail-
lpau corporations, and pledge our candi-
yates, un, II elected, to give the people. by
proper legislative enactment, the right to
siect such commissioners. in such man
tion.
we demand that the next Legislature
OF MAINE should thoroughly revise our
IN IN Gaws, E, and make them consistent with
.ne state constitution 10 the end that all
property snail be taxed equally according
10 tne Just value thereof.
for nearly half century we have had
statutory law, prohibiting the manu-
facture. sale and use of intoxicatinp
liquors. For nearly half that time ii has
been embodied in the State constitution
aro, ondee !. was hrst enacted, scores of
amendments, each more stringent and the
penait1es more severe than those preced-
ing 1t, have been passed
For ~ years the alleged enforcement of
the prohibitory law has been growing
more and more lax until. today in neor,
~ every city in the State and MANY of
the larger towns, there are regularly es
taoilsned bars and saloons where liquors
are soiu IN open. faSrant violation of the
constitutional and statutory law Nearly
every hotel. many restaurants, hundreds
or s9-calied drug stores. and un-num-
bered and secret saloons and bar rooms in
the cities sell without restriction save n n
occasional seizure and fine for political
purposes.
For the present shameful, disgusting
condition OF affairs in relation 10 the nro
hibitory law. the Republican leaders and
their supporters are solely responsible
Today. in many parts of the State. we
are having all the evils of free rum"
and none of the redeeming features of a
license law.
For years the prohbitory law has been
a political foot ball. It's hypocrtical en-
iorcement mas been used to control the
liquor vote; to increase the income of
perJured officials. and to swell the cor
rmption fund for campaign purposes.
through IhT h its , inStrnmentaiity the party. in
officials sworn to enforce the law: de-
bauched voters, deceived the advocates OF
temperance betrayed the cause which it
professed to support, creating a contempt
ana a disregard for all laws. and has
made the good name of the State a by-
word and reproach wherever il is known.
We maintain that the Republican party
in Maine is under the practical control
of ring which has finally become the
rum syndicate of the State promoting
the illegal sale of liquor. protecting the
dealer in the sale, pOcketing a large rev.
enue from these transactions assessing
rum sellers for money with which to con-
trol caucuses. conventions and elections,
and saddling a heavy debt upon and load
Ing the taxpayers with bills, charges and
alleged disbursements too grievous to be
borne, and by such duplicity they are de-
moralizing the youth of our State and
educating them to disregard law and
order.
We believe the respectable, law-abiding
citizens OF the State. irrespective of
party, favor a change. They demand that
the law shall be either enforced or re-
pealed. To that end We favor resubmis-
sion. When resubmssion is accomplished
we advocate a high license and local op-
tion law, but until this is accomplished
We demand the impartial enforcement of
the present prohibitory law. and we
pledge our candidates. if elected, to such
an enforcement.
We pledge to the candidates this day
nominated our cordial and united sup
port.
The resolutions Were adopted amid
cheers.
Hon. NJ. T. Frank of Portland. ad-
dressed the convention. and placed in
nomination for Governor. Samuel J..
Lord Esq. cX-mayor of Saco MIR Lord
was nominated by acclamation. Mr.. Lord
made short speech expressing his
thanks.
Congressman Fitzgerald then addressed
the convention. The convention ad-
journed at 3.l5.