Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-01-10
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF GOVERNOR COBB.
Concluded from frat page.)

two leading political parties in the
State have publicly and formally de-
clared themselves In opposition to the
present method " paying certain State
and County officials. therefore rec
emmend that the fee system, so-called.
be abolished, and that in it's place you
establish by legislation system pro.
yiding for the payment of fixed and
adequate salary to all those persons
who have been placed in Office by the
people or by the legislature, and who
in a public capacity serve the State
or Counties.
In referring to the recent death OF
Ezra Curtis Stevens, late Superintend'
ent of Public Buildings, am very sure
that the many among you who knew
him, will recognize the propriety OF
using this occasion for the purpose OF
paying a brief but sincere tribute to
his memory. Mr.. Stevens was most
efficient State official. His term OF
service was long and in different ca,
pacities, but 1t was In the care and
Improvement of this building and
these halls that he particularly ex'
hibited his abilities as competent
energetic and conscientious public
servant. All who met him will recall
his fine qualities of heart and mind,
his gentleness and unfailing courtesy,
and we whom a kind fortune made his
friends will hold him always in crate.
full recollection.
It has not seemed to me necessary
or expedient in this paper and at this
time, to present for your considera
ton Information of the condition OF
the State" except in most general
terms. The reports submitted by the
various Departments, Boards and Com
missions contain the complete and pre-
else details Of their operations and
scope. and will undoubtedly receive
your careful attention and thought.
have preferred instead to discuss some
WHIT in detail the questions of reduc
ing the State tax and abolishing the
fee system. and to make definite recon-
mendations for their treatment al
your hands. There are other matters
of moment and Importance that will
appeal to your solicitude and judg
ment for decision. When these be
come the subjects Of legislative In
uuiry and action, and both necessity
and propriety seem to require an ex
preston of my views, | shall venture
to declare them in accordance with the
privilege granted by the Constitution
to the Governor Of the State.
But I do not mean to close this ad
dress without speaking of a public
question that lies very close to the
heart and conscience Of thousands OF
the men AMI women Of this State, and
one that should and l believe does ap
peal to every law-abiding citizen for q
prompt and righteous settlement.
refer to the existing prohibitory
law. so-called, and to the condition oil
its practical non-enforcement in many
of our cities and towns. cannot hope
to bring to its discussion new ideas
nor by the aid of unfamiliar argu
ments to throw new light upon the
cause believe it my duty to sustain
but I can and do avail myself OF this
opportunity to ask you to look at tht
fundamental truths and facts OF thit
question, stripped of the covering thai
prejudice, partisanship and selfish
ness have inevitably and continuously
laid upon them, and to decide as cit
liens and legislators where your dutie:
lie in the treatment OF the greatest
issue that ever confronted the people
of this State. This Is an appeal moi
for legislation but for the exercise Of
good citizenship; not for party advan
tage. brit for public welfare.
Here Is a law that was placed upor
the Statute books In obedience to the
voters commands. Its main objec,
and purpose was to improve the con
| dition Of society by limiting the op
portunities to crafty an appetite
whose possession may be one of the
I frauties of human nature. Its mos1
earnest advocates never believed thai
It would entirely eradicate the evils
against which 1t was directed. but ono
a law, they had the right-and the.
have it still-to expect that its en-
forcement would be attempted b.
sworn officials with the same energy
| perEistency and honesty that general.
characterize the action of such official
in enforcing other laws. Has this al
ways been done? Every intelligent cit
| izen knows it has not, and that in thi
statement Is contained the reasons TO
past and present difficulties and tn,
suggestion for a remedy.
A wholesome respect for law Is tn
natural heritage of the people o
| Maine. A very large majority of thos'
who favor the maintenance and en-
forcement of the prohibitory law do 81
because they believe that in that Law
Is provided the best method of repress
ing and correcting an undoubted evil
! They are not welded to 1t as such
alone, but advocate 1t simply because
| in their judgment it Is the best avail
able means to accomplish certain ant
necessary end. They form the ele
ment in our body-politic that PLACED
the law on the statute-books ant
keeps it there. These people are no
| fanatics. They are law-abiding, rea
sonable and sincere. would be the las
to claim infallibility and the first t
respond to sound suggestion for civic
progress. But above all they respec
law and realize that in its general ant
ready observance lies the hope ant
| promise of good government. Theil
position briefly stated Is this; they be
| lieve first that the prphibitory Law
furnishes practical method of lessen
Ing the sale and consequent use of in
toxicating liquors, and second that In
asmuch as that law is on our statute
books. 1t should be enforced with Wig
or, determination and uniformity. TIL,
moral strength of their position lies II
the fact that they are contending no
for the adoption of law, but for thu
enforcement Of one already in exis
tence. AS to the 1rst declaration, there
is an honest difference Of opinion
among our people; as to the SECOND
there ought to be absolute unanimity
The estimate in which the prohibit
tory law Is held in certain parts of the
State, and by many of our citizens, l!
working an incalculable injury to the
forces that make for law and order
A disrespect and disregard lor all Law
| Is being nurtured that II allowed tt
grow unchecked and unassailed will
weaken and -estroy the very fOunda
lions of good-government.
In reply to these assertions 1t may
be urged that all these conditions
would be improved II the law could be
repealed or even resubmitted to the
people. But such answer Is based
wholly upon conjecture. and there are
sound political reasons against such q
course. The question has become tc
be the most important one In the poll
tics Of the State, and the dominant
party Is committed to the maintenance
and enforcement Of this law. If party