Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-09

temperance. He is a strong advocate
of temperance. but he does not believe
in prohibition. He believes in taking
away from the young people a chance
To get liquor. but he wants place
where they can have as many as the
local clement may desire to make.
So far as the matter OF the p"ohlbl-
tory law. in its workings is concerned.
he knows and everyone knows that
there have always been times when
the local officials have not enforced
the law. He says it is reflection
upon the officers elected in any county.
To appoint Il Commission who may do
their duty for them. Is il Il reflection
upon a man who does not DO his duty
to be held up to the people of the State
az an inefficient office;--;l man who is
willfully neglecting his duty If il is
il seems to me he ought to be reflected
on i'll that manner. His whole arGu
ment is an argument iii favor of local
option lie believes in local option.
His argument against this bill is an
argument against the enforcement of
the law, and is an argument for local
option. That Is what We are having
in This State at the present time in
certain sections. and we always have
had il in certain sections. but it is il
legal local option. He does not want
10 take away from the people the
rights given them under the conStitu-
ton to do what to lei the local cle-
ment nullIfy the State law. Does the
constitution give them amy such rights
the la " ic nd. i,N- no If the
state for all the people Of the State.
He says he does not want rs TO come
down 10 Knox county or Cumberland
county. on any other county To see that
the law is enforced. Of the people down
there don't want il enforced. and ne
says they have Il right To govern
| themselves. They have no right I"
nulify a state law. and he knows it,
and there is no one but knows it.
The fact of the case is that i'll Ger
tain sections. men are at times elected
who fail to perform the duties Of their
OFFICES fully. and to properly prosecute
violations % the laws. Some may say
they do it because local sentiment is
| against it. That does not make amy
| difference Local sentiment has moth
| ing to do with the sentiment of
| State law. Such a law is made for all
| the people: and While those people in
| that section may be opposed to il: ANA
| while the Senator from Knox county
| may be in favor of local option. local
option is not the law. There is Il law
| against TIE manufacture and sale of
| Intoxicating liquors in the State of
| Maine. ami il should bear alike upon
| all the people of the STATE. in every
| section. as much upon Knox coiflty as
upon amy other. in spite of the fact
| that the Senator from KHoX is iii favor
| Of local option. He has at this time
i specialized local option il his county
hut it is an Illegal local option He
goes int" States where they are for
| high license and local option and then
ne comes down into his own county
and finds twenty-five young man
around Il hotel
| Mr.. STAPLES: 1t is not in my .coun-
". but in yuur county
The CHAIR: I'll" senator Will please
not interrupt
MI. STtEGlS: | guess that is right
| hat shows th"i3' necessity tor the bet
ter enforcement Of tn law: and if ;hc
| local officers who ha,n b., en- elected to
! enforce the law 10 no. see fit to do so.
should not power be given to central
| officials 50 That they may enforce the
stat" law. is it an unrca S,uaDle thing
| to ask that. if local officials who haze
| been elected to enforce the law and
| then NIifullE CT BECAUSE of their incOm-
| potency, fail 10 do 81, that the Chief
Executive of tn" state should be given
power to see that thai law is enforced?
Is that unreasonable? 1t seems to m.
very reasonable proposition. 1t is a
State law and the Chiaf Executive Of
the State Shrul nave the power to see
il enforced The senator saws the pco-
pie have a righs. if they know anybody
is selling liquor. 10 go to I'll" munitpal
officers and complain. and if they do
rot properly ENFORCE ;hc law they are
lined $50. They will go ana complain.
possibly: and the man against whom
| the co,nnlant is made have notice AS
soon as anybody els. and he Wou$d
| not, perhaps h,. caught. but. so far as
hat goes. even if n were. caught it is
not the duty Of the people 1t saws
They may 90. rot: They shall 60. Fl )
says il is the duty Of the people to 60
d!ll complain. IL - nor True. 1t Is The
| duty of the officials Wlo art. elected 10
enforce the laws. and Ii Y are paid 70
| 1t. The peonl" simply may 80 ana do
| that Now III" people have a living 10
| earn for themselves and their families.
and they cannot SpHnL all their time
| III chasing around aHG in making OIL
| Gals who have been elected to pcrforn
certain duties. rerf9rm them If They
| are as honest as h" wishes US to be :
| ,i"ve. il would rot b. ne, essary. The
| Senator wants to know If anything is
| '"mplained Of against any county at
| tnrney. The general pubic have com
nlained II is 1 matte" OF omen notorir-
| tN The papers speak of it-evcryhodv
| knows about II - that in certain sec
ions at certain times. there is not II
| proper enforcement of the law. He saws
| that If these officials nGertake to 60
into a country and enforce the law.
| there Will be frict ion with the local off
Gals. If there We're some criminals the
| local officers could not catch. and the
commission ana It's deputies went in
ard seized them. ard caught peop;t.
| they could not get. would there he any