The Somerset reporter., 1902-09-04
The Parties and Prohibition.

At this time when the enforcement of
the prohibitory law is properly promi-
nent issue 10 the State campaign it is
we'll to look the matter over and ascer-
tain the position of the two leading par
ties upon the issue.
In the Democratic State convention
the party came out 1st-footed in oppo-
sition to prohibition and in favor of re-
submission in the following unequivocal
language:
eve are opposed to the present pro-
hibitory law which has always been a
source of political blackmail, bribery
and corruption, and we demand the re-
submission of the whole question to the
people,.
In the Somerset convention of the
same party, June %, the committee on
resolutions evolved the following plank,
largely in the nature Of stump speech,
the evident object being more particu-
larly to rap delinquent Republican off.
cials rather than to make any definite
promise of enforcement;
Resolved, That we charge upon the
Republican party who have had the en-
tire control Of the administration of the
laws for the suppression of the illegal
sale of Intoxicating liquor for forty
years, that they have been unfaithful,
dishonest and hypocritical and have
brazenly broken every solemn pledge
touching that question, and we now look
with suspicion upon any and all prom
Uses that party now makes. We repudi
ate the idea that the Democratic party
shall cater to the good opinion Of Repub-
lican rumsellers. We therefore pledge
our party, always the champions of lib
erty and law, to the faithful enforcement
of all laws for the suppression of crime
and especially the impartial enforcement
of the prohibitory law, 30 long as the
same shall remain on the statutes of
Maine.
Resolved, That we believe in govern
ment OF law and not government of
men. Therefore we denounce the sys-
tenn of low license that has been carried
out in this county, wherein the sheriff
permits the open and unrestricted sale
OF intoxicating liquor In violation of the
law
The Republican party in State conven-
ton in Portland adopted the following
explicit statement as reported by the
committee on resolutions;
Every provision upon our statute
books for the promotion of temperance
was put there by the Republican party,
which has always stood for sobriety and
and thrift among the people of our State.
We favor the continuance OF all such
statutes and demand their faithful and
impartial enforcement by the officers of
the law
TIE Republican county convention
held at Skowhegan, June Is. passed the
following enforcement plank:
Especially do we emphasize, as a mat
ter intimately connected with the admin
istratior of county affairs, the faithful
and impartial enforcement Of temperance
statutes required Of officers of the law In
the platform of the Republican State
Convention. To this end we demand of the
nominees of this convention, upon whom
the execution OF law will devolve, that,
upon their election and induction into
office theyIput forth their utmost efforts
to promptly, vigorously and continuous
ly enforce In every part OF the county,
during their official terms, the provisions
of the prohibitory law. We pledge to
these officers our hearty cooperation
and answering support in the perform
ance of duties required Of them by Stat
ute.
We cannot see wherein this plank
could be made more comprehensive and
explicit. In the first place it endorses
the action of the State convention in its
demand for the continuance OF the stat
ute and for faithful and impartial en-
forcement by officers Of the law. In the
second place It demands Of the nominees
of the county convention upon whom
the execution of the law will devolve,
that they put forth their utmost efforts
to promptly, vigorously and continu-
ously enforce In every part of the county,
during their official terms, the provis-
ions of the prohibitory law. In the
third place the members of the conven-
ton pledged to these officers their
hearty cooperation and answering sup
port in the performance of their duties.
The Democratic State Convention de
clsred against prohibition and In favor
of resubmission. The Democratic County
Convention did not declare 10 favor of
prohibition but did raise its voice to call
in question and suggest the repeal of the
law, when 1t used the words,
$50 long as the same shall remain on the
statutes Of Maine.
The Republican State Convention
spoke out squarely in favor of contin-
uance of the prohibitory statutes, thus
declared for prohibition, and the county
convention endorsed this declaration,
and spoke for enforcement by officers of
the law; while the Democratic party
declares against the prohbitory law and
demands resubmission, the county De-
mocracy pledging the party to "lmpar.
tial" enforcement. The Republican plat
form was never stronger for prohibition
than this year; the Democratic could not
well be much weaker. Parties rarely do
better than their platform promises.
Prohibition In Maine has little TO hope
for from the Democratic party.