The Somerset reporter., 1902-08-28
The Sheriff Issue in
Somerset County.

The temperance question is one in
which the citizens of this county are
vitally Interested. Upon this issue we
are sharing in The widespread awaken
ing of the people which is going on
throughout the State Not only in
Skowhegan and Madison, but in other
parts of the county there is a growing
demand that our laws shall be enforced.
This temperance issue just at the pres
ent time centers around the question as
to who shall fill the office of sheriff.
Apparently the rather indefinite state
ment In the Somerset Reporter last
week of what Mr.. Harding said in re-
gard to his own attitude are only calcu-
lated to obscure the issue and to befog
the minds of the voters.
At the outset one fact is evident. Be.
cause man is nominated by party
which in its platform has declared for
enforcement is no guarantee that the
man himself stands for enforcement.
Planks In platforms are too often only
skillfully woven words to catch votes at
election time. Here is the fact; the
Republican party has been in power in
this county during the last seven years.
In all that time they have been declar.
! ing themselves the temperance party.
Have they enforced the law? Have they
banished the saloon? Have they lived
up in the slightess degree to their dec
| larations? Everybody knows that with
the exception of few weeks, during
the whole seven years, liquor has been
openly sold in Skowhegan and in other
towns of the county.
Moreover no matter how strong a
temperance plank may be written the
officer will interpret it as he likes.
More than one official has said that he
considers the collection of fines strong
and impartial enforcement of the law.
1t comes to this, then, that we must
depend not upon the plank in the plat
form, but upon the man in the office,
Planks are often but empty words; but
men are deeds.
Now we are to choose between two
men for the office of sheriff. Mr.. Harding
and Mr.. Lang. Which man is going to
be most likely to enforce the lawp
Mr. Harding has given no statement
of what he will do if elected save the
rather indefinite report already referred
to. He has been interviewed by men on
this question and urged to declare his
position. One of the leading Republi.
can politicians has told him that it would
be the best thing politically that he
could do. If his heart is in the en-
forcement of the law why has he
not bravely taken his stand in this
matter as Mr.. Cummings, the Republican
nominee in Androscoggin county, has
done? If he is in favor of the enforce
ment of the law his silence is passing
strange, and indeed If at this late day
any declaration has been or should be
made, the preponderance of the evidence
goes to show that 1t has been done
simply in the hope of gaining few
temperance votes.
Once more, there is a good scripture
text which says: "By their fruits shall
ye know them" As deputy sheriff has
Mr.. Harding enforced the law in Madi-
SOM When the people of Madison Pc
titioned for the enforcement of the law,
Sheriff Pennell turned the matter over
to Mr.. Harding and told him that he
could do as he thought best in his own
town. Has he enforced the law in Mad
ison since that time? The Madison
people say "No." Have we any reason
to believe that Mr.. Harding will do in
| the future what he has not done in the
pastp
Now Mr.. Lang has told as clearly as
words can put it what his effort will be,
If elected. tits generally agreed that Mr..
Lang is man whose word can be
trusted he stands for the enforcement
of the law. Is not the duty of every
true citizen plain? 1t makes no differ
ence whether Democrat or Republican
is elected to an Office which is purely
local and administrative in its nature.