Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-06

Intelligent citizen knows it has not.
and that in this statement is contained
the reasons for past and present diff
culties and the suggestion for
remed%.
4 wholesome respect for law is the
natural heritage of .he !.eopie of Maine.
verv large ma jOriiy OF those who
| favor TIL" maintenance" and enforce
rent Of the prohibitorE law d" SO be-
cause they believe that i'm that law IS
provided the best method of REFRESHING
| and correcting al undDubted evil
| They are not welded to- it as such,
al.Itc. but advocate it simply because
| in their Judgment it is the best avail
| able means TO accomplish It certain and
necessary end. They form the element
| in our hody-uoiitic that placed the law
on the Statute books ana kept it there.
These people are not fanatics. They
are X W-aDGing, rea Soilable and sin
| crre. and Wnuld be thu last to claim
| infalliDilty and the first to respond to
L sound suggestion for civic progress.
I:ut above all they respect law and
It alze that in its general and ready
good government ''h il position
briefly stated is this: they believe first
that the prohibi,ory law furnishes Il
practical method of leGScnilg the sale
ard consequent use Of Intoxicating
LIQUORS, and second tha. inasmuch as
that law is on our Statute books. it
| should be enforced wit Iicor. detcrmi-
nation and uniformity. The moral
strength of their position lies in the
fact That they are contenling not for
the aGopt ion of 4 Law. but for the en-
| forcemcnt of one already il existence.
| As 10 the first declaration. there is an
| honest difference Of opinion among our
people: as to the second tEere ought TO
| be absolute unanmity.
Tho estimate in which the prGhibitory
law is held in certain parts of til" State.
and by many of our citizens. is working
| an incalcnablc injury to tie forces that
! ma kc for law and ord"r. a disrc<pcct and
disregard for All law il being nmtured
| that if allowed to grow unchecked and
| unassailed will weaken ard destroy rhe
| very foundations OF good government.
| In reply t" these assertions it may be
urged that all these conditions would lie
improved if The law could be repealed or
cuch an answer is based wholly upon con
| lecture and there are sound political rea-
sons against such course. The question
| has become to he the most important one
III the politics of The State and the domi-
| nant PARTY is committed To the mainte-
nance and enforcement OF this law. If
party professions are entitled to conf
dencc, and if The woes Of Il Very conSid-
q q m n q .a1
as ! believe in large part upon this par
| particular proposition-furnish any mdica-
| ton of thci" wishes by what code of po-
| litical ethics can the repre- sentative of
| that party Justify themselves in favorins
| now any POLICY other than that OF main
| tanning and enforcing this law?
| Ii the people of Maine ever abandon or
ma terialiy change the prohib;ory law. il
will he done only after they have seen ii
| enforced honestly and uniformly, in the
same reasonable ana persistent manner
| that other laws are enforced. and after
! they have become convinced that such
! enforcement has actually failed TO ac-
| cOmplish the desired end. Enforcement
| may cause the law to he changed, but
| non-enfClcement never.
This question has REACHED that stage Of
| discussion and treatment here differ
enccs Of opinion to the wisdom of the
| law itself should he allowed to cmharrasS
| the situation no longer This law must be
! enforced in order that all law may be vim
dicated, and to the performance of this
duty every man, irrespective of party
| hut united in the interests of good citi
Zenships, may well direct his energy and
| influence. The task is not an easy one,
! and the PRACTICAL difficulties thar stand III
| the way Of its accomplishment should be
neither ignored nor underestimate; but
an aroused and determined public senti
ment standing for order and respect of
| law can force officials to do the. duty. or
| failing in thiS, can ill their places with
! those WHO will
| In conclusion. Gentlemen. permit me to
| express the hope that your services herr
Will he satisfactory to yourselves and
| beneficial to the State, ana to assure You
| of my earnest desire to cooperate with
| YOU 20 that end.