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

| heck of every man who loves this
State. That it has not been a sue
'ess as a temperance measure is con-
| eeded by all fair mindd and impartial
men.
It's failures are so numerous that |
annot take your time to enumerate
| hem.
Every law has a definite purpose.
| The laws against murder and larceny,
provided penalties for the commission
If these offenses with a view to pre-
lent their commission and to punish
he offender. These crimes are such as
| would naturally be considered criminal,
regardless of statute law; for every
| nan has, a right to be protected in his
| person and his property against tres
passer. Fly the 10 commandments the
| Lord himself pronounced their just
| punishment.
| The cry Of stop thief in the street,
| will cause men to neglect their present
| business and hasten to assist in his
! apture. The crime of murder will
ause in the community in which it is
| committed a general feeling of anger
| and Indignation, and sometimes threats
IF lynching, without awaiting the ac-
| ion of the courts; thus showing in
very possible way that the public have
10 respect for the murderer, the thief,
| he assaulter. and that at all times
| they are willing by active, real, live
sentiment to aid in their prosecution.
Do you find such a sentiment in favor
Of the State prohibitory law? Do you
| ind many men who will ever pause as
! hey walk in the streets of our cities
nd larger towns, to witness, much less
prevent, a violation of this law which
occupies q place in our sacred consti-
ution?
How many men in their hearts be-
ieve that the fairly respectable rum
;eller is a real criminal? How many of
you here would refuse to greet and as
:ociate with your hotel keeper, yet he
or he has been criminal. He is
violating, or he has violated, the con-
stitutional law of the State. You
would not do that to the thief or the
murderer and yet according to some
people there is no man on top of the
earth that is more degraded than the
rumseller.
When hear this argument, call the
attention of those who use it, and it Is
a vital point in the discussion of this
question: l ask them to point out a
part of the constitution of Maine that
violated with such regularity as
this part of it, or a part of it that is
violated at all. 1 dare say it will be a
most difficult undertaking for any of
them to find the spot. 1 ask you all
,andidly and fairly, why is it there?
What good does it do? Does it i'm
prove the character of the instrument?
Does it serve any useful purpose? On
he other hand is it not a reflection
upon the constitution and the State?
Twenty years ago by a mistake of the
voters of Maine this law was elevated
to dignity which it has ever since
disgraced.
l have heard this remark made by
certain supporters of State prohibition:
Why not submit the remainder of the
constitution as well as this part of it ?
| answer that there is no other part
Of the constitution that gives us any
cause for complaint. / maintain that
from legal and common sense stand
point. it has no more right to a place
in the constitution of Maine, that the
law which protects the dearly beloved
moose. in his wanderings through the
woods.
Remember that this law is a part
of the constitution of Maine; remem-
Der that the constitution is the organic
law of the State, the very foundation
Of all our rights and privileges; re-
member all of these things the next
time you make the suggestion that was
made famous by the governor of North
Carolina. or when you respond with the
words, 81 don't care if I do"
When this time comes always re-
member that you voted to keep the pro-
hibitory amendment away from the
people, and aided in keeping the poor
innocent in it's sacred cage.
Let us for a moment consider this
law from the standpoint of common
sense. Every member of this House
will agree with me in this assertion,
that laws, whether they deal with the
property or the person, must be reason
able in order to obtain the active sup
port of reasonable men.
Is the State prohibitory law reason
able law? Does it present itself to
practical and experienced men as a law
that will ever receive that degree of
support which is accorded the laws en-
acted to prevent and punish the COM
mission of other crimes?
The experience of so years which we
have had in this State to my mind |
answers the question in the negative.
The amount of money received in fines
throughout this State, and the number
of persons paying these fines, and the
regularity with which the same indi-
vidual walks into court and paws his
fine, year after year, demonstrate that
what has been called prohibition has
really been an irregular license system.
The number of persons in this State /,
who have made the liquor business the |
sole source of income are legion. This
would not be possible if the law it. |
self was supported or was considered |
proper law by the people. The muir
derer or the thief does not meet with |
the same reception in society that Is |
accorded the rumseller. and this is n
proposition which I must Respectfully
refer to our brethren who would make |
Continued on page 81
ECZEMA, NO CURE. NO pAv