Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-05

| provides that the question of the Il
visibility of change, or amendment t.
the constitution of the State shall be
first passed upon by the Legislature
The resolution must receive "a vote @,
two thirds of the voting members OF
the Legislative bodies. It must then be
submitted to the people in regular
form, and they must upon their ballots
express their approval or diSapproyal
of the law by voting, yes or no. Re-
member that, this is the peoples law
1t is not of legislative, creation. The
executive, the Legislative and Judi
cial idenaEtrn ents have ne power over it
Built is possible for sthe. Legislature to
prevent: th4i people frotn having an op-
oortuEity ITO express themselves upon
it. It. is possible for personal am
billions and. political hopes to worm
themselves into the heart of the nm
wise legislator and cause him to vote
to keep the question away from the
oeople in order that these political
ropes and political ambitions NAV be
subserved Vi.
That is possible. gentlemen of this
House, but it is an most unwise policy.
I is possible to try the temper of the
people for a time. but you can rest as
sured that it will not last.
The storm will break in the old
State of Maine. some day, and it will
break with great force and fury. and
some of those who have PLAYED with
he people too long will experience
what it is to be submerged under the
ecean of the peoples Indignation. .c
Everywhere in Maine the cry goes
Ip. Give us this law that we may pass
upon it," 1t is not confined to those
Who believe that the law is not a prop
a: law but joining in the chorus we
ind prohibitionists who opposed re-
submission two years ago. also newG-
. paperS that were born in the rrohhi-
ton cradle. and have grown to old age
7oddling and nursing this sweet I'M
tried infant.
So LEI this Legislature be not afraid
to give this question to the people. 1t
is their demand. 1t is their right to
have that demand complied with.
Remember we are not here as repre-
are the servants of all the people
Do not be deluded by the unwarrant-
ed statements and foolish nonsense
that YOU Will be classed as ru,nmy if
you vote for this resolution. Such in
fantile chatter comes from the mouths
of those who should have lived 200
years ago. Some of them find that
kind of talk to be very profitable as
ii helps them to earn salary.
BY voting for this resolution you
simply say: ] am willing that this
question shall be decided by those who
have right 20 make or unmake the
constitution. and l will let the plain
people decide it. and | have AN abiding
faith that they will decide it rightly.
The people can always be trusted, al
though We sometimes find men and
women who feel themselves constituted
and appointed as the guardians of the
people, and who ina CINE that they and
they clone are the best judges as to
the wants of the true sOVereigns of the
State.
They feel in this particular case that
the 9Th amendment to the constitution
of Maine is their own sweet baby. ana
they talk of the. expense of its submis-
sion. of the labor incident to cam
raign. and of the thousand and one
things it will be necessary for them TO
wv WI llic utdi tIlHS Witch II Is De-
fore the people for inspection.
What right have they TO talk in this
strain? What particular authority
over this amendment have they that
they should talk of expense and labor?
This constitution belongs to the people.
IT is the peoples property. 1t is that
which the people own and control, and
hope and trust that this constitution
Which is the legitimate child of the
great mother constitution, which was
given birth in the blood of the soldiers
and patriots of 1916, as the great char
ter of the peoples rights and liberties
viii never. never, never become thu
property of those self-constituted
owners.
The darkness of the night of hypoc-
risy is passing and the morning of Il
better. a nurer and a sweeter day is
slowly breaking in this beloved State
of ours
When the public eye is opened, as
believe it is. today. we can hope for
better things. we can look forward to
Sliehter morrow.
! believe that the sentiment which
% c2 stoned The uprising against this
ElnN OF law IN TIE state OF NermOnt
has moved on to New Hampshire and
Maine. as the waves of old ocean moves
to the shore.
Ii strikes my mind that the people
of these two states are convinced that
this insincere. this nonsensical law IS
not the law suited to modern ideas.
1t has had It's time of life. 1t has COR
rupted the political. the moral and the
social conditions of our State long
enough, and it should now be relegated
to the place to which we consign all
laws that have outlived their useful
ness and effectiveness: if it can ever
b. said that this amendment has ever
been useful or effective.
| believe that it is YOUR duty, to-
day. to give your support to the minor
itv report of the committee. / believe
II is your duty to vote in accordance
with your own belief. in accordance
with the dictates of your own con-
science. And further believe that any
representative here who votes by this
rul" will be respected by his constitu-
cnts wherever they may be. The man
who wins confidence and respect, to-
day. is he who stands for right.
Let your votes speak for the people