Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-02-28
Y orresponneltrE
Prohibition or License.
NORTH PENoBsooT, Feb. 20, 1906.

IrOnlD1tiOn or License.
NORTH PENoBsooT, Feb 20, 1906.
To the Editor of The american:
There can be no evading the fact that
the real issues in the approaching cam
paign will be prohibition or license clear
and sharp. So ring the bells an6 bring up
the campalgners ready for the start.
This issue, prohibition enforced, was
made prominent in the last campaign, and
will be more prominent in the next cam
paign. Resubmission is but preliminary
test of the real situation.
The republican party will be brought
face to face with its record and it has no
choice but to stand firm and fight in its
own entertainments. 1t is on record for
the prohibitory law, and that law enforced
by the most unusual and extraordinary
method ever adopted for the enforcement
of any law in the State of Maine.
The last legislature was Characteristic
ally temperance legislature. More bills
designedly for the promotion of temper
ance were thrown into the legislative
hopper than at any single previous session
probably in the history of the State Re-
submission was voted down by a unani-
nous republican vote.
The Sturgis law, evidently conceived to
do the thing up in the brain of a man
whose candidacy has been vigorously OPP
posed by prohibitionists, at first received
but slender support, but was SO vigorously
lobbied by republicans because anxious to
put the law to the most rigid test, and by
well known prohibitionists in Cumber-
land county DESTROYS of a better enforce
ment in that county where the law has
been set aside for the Pennell plan.
| l say it was so persistently lobbied that
it received the practically unanimous re-
publican vote of the Senate, and large
majority of the republicans voting in the
House. / was one of the few ''horribIe
republicans, and the only one in Hancock
| county, who stood up against it. / be-
lieve it to be unnecessary, unbusinesslike,
unconstitutional and un-American, and
that while it would serve as a temporary
tonic to the law, it would tend in the end
| to weaken the whole system OF enforce
ment, and might endanger prohibition
| itself.
| But it is not my interest to discuss the
weak points of the law in this article,
nor say aught to hinder the good work it
may be doing. 1t is law, and the evident
intent Of the law is to suppress the most
| gigantic evil in this State, and in its
proper and legitimate exercise deserves
the support of every citizen who has the
best interest Of the State at heart. Every
| effort, no doubt, will be made by the
enemies of prohibition to ridicule the
| Sturgis law-exhibit it's obnoxious feat
ures and make it an excuse for resub-
mission.
| There will no doubt be some we'll
ing republicans who will plead for resub-
mission in the republican platform, on the
ground that the prohibitory law has been
| better enforced than for years, and that
| the people are in better condition to judge
as to whether they want it continued or
overthrown, but in most instances that
| will be the delusive song Of the politicians.
When the people want resubmission they
can call for it so loudly and so emphatically
| that the legislature will be obliged to
| listen.
No man will seek for an opportunity to
vote on the prohibitory amendment unless
he wants to vote it out of the constitu-
ton, or risk the cause of prohibition for
party's sake.
If the republican party stands for any
thing in this State, it stands for prohibit
ton, and if it honestly stands for prohibit
ton, it stands for prohibition enforced.
There let it stand, strong and firm on the
bedrock of virtuous, intelligent citizen
ship, proud of its position and conscious
of it's strength, with courage to make the
hardest and most important fight ever
made in the State of Maine. But if it
stands before the people of this State in
the two-fold attitude with one hand
clasping the hand of prohibition, and the
other proffering the gift of resubmission
to the rum element, it will drive from its
support its strongest and most influential
friends, and be the laughing stock of the
enemies. If it escapes destruction by the
skin of it's teeth after pursuing such a
course, it will be but to exc out a linger-
| ing death or give way to another party
more honest in it's fibre and pledged to
| the objects OF higher civilization.
JIM. H.
|