Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-06

How do YOU think the 10 command
ments were received by the people
when Moses presented them? 1t was
something new, it was a new COM
mandment that had been given by the
Lord to the people, and something that
had not existed in the past else they
had not been given. 1t is a fact that
this law perhaps has and does now
presage the same at least of the public
sentiment along this line of morals,
but do you know that in 100 years from
now it will be as it is today, there will
be more of this liquor used or less.
Nothing remains fixed. Is there any
question in your minds in what direc-
ton we are moving. If you set this law
back to license, go back to free rum
and go back until the PEOPLE have not
even thought that there was an evil in
this trade there seems to be one thing
agreed upon by everybody who
has spoken, and it is this, that
liquors is an injury to the
individual and to the State. 1 have not
heard that doubted. And admitting
that premise, if we are progressing and
advancing, is it not the natural out
come Vi lElS NilOlC liliiiS3 that we are
going to move on until public sentiment
does come up to this high standard of
living, rather than to bring US down to
the low present standard of the pub
| lie? 1t looks to me, viewing it in the
light of history, as though we are
moving on in this line.
1t is said that this sentiment comes
from the backtoWns. Yes, it does come
from the back towns. If you will re-
member, Christ was born in a small
town, that all great moral refCrmers
started from these small towns. When
this man came forward to the people
to teach a new doctrine, what did they
say of him? They said, What good can
come out of NAZARETH" And the man
who first took up that doctrine and be-
lief, what did they say of those men,
the first followers of Christ? You Will
find that all these great moral REFORM
ers start back in these centers and
move toward the cities, and if the
cities have any doubt in the State OF
| Maine that this is beginning to move
| that way they will soon find their mis-
take / have been out in a few small
| towns of the State for the past two
years, but it has been my privilege
probably to know personally and see as
many people in the State of Maine as
any other person within the sound of
my voice. not only people in the coun-
try but in the cities. l have heard the
sentiment along this line expressed by
| individuals in their homes, on the
street and in gatherings from few
hundred to a few thousand people, and
| if you could hear the applause when
ever III the State of Maine in any
| town during the past two years, the
speaker has referred to the enforcement
of this law and the retention of this
| law, you would not doubt that there
| was a feeling for it. The gentleman
says that the petitions which have
come in here have been 10 to l in ia
vor of retaining this law. Yes, and it
might nave been made 100 to |. The
great organization of the Grange has
| taken no active step in this matter, and
| Whv? because we knew it was dead
issue, and that this was going to be
turned down; and when they have re-
ferred TO me | have said, 1T is not nee
cssary to waste your labor and energy
in sending in petitions to this Legisla
ture against resubmission.' Why, re-
submission-it was reSubmitted last
fall. Could anything be more strong
| than the plank put into the platform OF
the Republican party, and is there any
thing any stronger than the voice OF
the people embodying that? 1t has been
resubmi.tcd and when we speak of the
refere ndum, certainly we should refer
all questions to the people when there
is a reasonable demand for it, but l per
cent. or 3 per cent. or 10 per cent, on a
question like this is not a reasonable
demand to refer such a great question
as this to the people.
! / simply wish to say as member of
the committee. signing the majority re-
port, that ] hope the motion to adopt
the minority report will not prevail.
(Applause)
Mr.. DAVIS: Mr.. Speaker, / move
when the vote is taken on this minority
report it be by yea and nay vote.
Mr.. CAMPBELL of Cherryie!d: Mir
Speaker, | only wish briefly to cali the at
tention of the House to the significance
and influence of the vote to be taken here
today on this question. | recognize the
fact that there are quite anumber Of citi-
zens of this State. enlightened and gooc
citizens, who believe that high license
| law with local option would promote tht
cause of temperance better than the las
enforcement of a prohbitory law; and
this NOV emcnt two years ago started will
that idea. and it is looked upon throughout
the State that this is the movement oil
men who prefer high license and loca
option to the prohibitory law, and that
if this question is submitted, it will de-
velop quite strength in support of their
position. Now, for men who take that
| position, to vote to accept the minority
report in place of the majority report,
| they are consistent; but if there is q
member of this House who believes in
| prohibition and in the enforcement of
| the prohibitory law, to vote to submit
| the minority report or submit this
question for the sake of. by an over
whelming majority, settling this ques-
| ton. | think their vote is lost. Be-
cause. as it has been stated. it is really
question between those who advocate
high license with local option and those
who believe in prohibition, and to vote
no on this question means to vote for