Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-04-11
GOV. COBB SPEAKS.
,ns PAT ON THE sTURGIs
LAW.
., THE HISTORY OF THE Law
rvroulvocAL STATEMENT OF
HIS POSITION.

-. tho nresident OF your associ3tlon
W ,,,,sously extended to me an invi-
VIZ II attend this banquet, was glad to
'Ar .,, his hospitality and yours, and this
w." ~ reason. It gives me great pleasure
~ uuss, YOU personally, and, inasmuoh as
is~s an ayowed political and republican
l-,r;,s;ion. it gives me an opportunity
81 can use without improperly to
-. from my own point OF view the
.,,,,,,l situation as IT exists in our State
i.S,v / shall speak frankly, and shall
~ "a make my meaning and position
dear.
-.rs the dominant one in this state, is
"a criticised by the opposition as pos
...;nr neither principles nor courage in
!. treatment Of great and important
,,,.l lssue; when every intelligent man
srovs that any attempt to subordinate
,A,, issue or to treat il lightly will In IT
~ he looked upon as an evidence OF
-.kpess; when strange lethargy has
..i,sd some republicans and a stranger
,,nOcrscy others, and when a. logical
-sgl, Of all this, municipalities that for
-.x,s have been the home OF rock-ribbcd
rpubIieanis4i have capitulated to an ag-
,r~ivp and sGnguine democracy, II is no
,,ns 10 ignore facts nor undertake to
,srsle with them; but to face them boldly,
r,slyse them carefully, tell the truth as
,.,h one knows 1t and hold fast to the be-
IN ,hs, the people will decide the ques-
,iuus Involved in the next election with
An regard for the material and moral
welfare Of Maine.
Tbs chief executive of an administra-
fan i naturally and properly subjected
y criticism or praise, as In accordance
ri,h popular estimation that administra-
uca has been failure or q success.
The opinion II very general one shat
Al the republican losses in the spring
,lstions, al! the public and private utter
latss Of disaEected republicans, all the
txailiag doubts as TO republican success
5 the tall. are TO be attributed 10 the
.ascsnleni by a republican legislature OF
lie so-called Sturgis law.
Per.ons!ly, while | believe the Sturgis
Az 10 b. the chief cause OF the evident
unrest, know il Is not the only one.
snow there are many other contributory
sgses, but this is not the time or place TO
nsnlion them. The opinion is SO firmly
3 ed In the public mind that the Sturgis
hx is solely responsible for republican
asleat, both past and las our opponents
think Immediately prospective, that, in
-rr nd nj II n tzks n ~ l. a
10 divert the issue; and for myself am
Wiling, for arguments sake, to consider 1t
10 be the sole cause and welcome its dis
cassion on these lines.
The fsct that the Sturgis law il appar-
saily the most notable piece OF legislatio
enacted thus far during my administra-
sion, and the fact that am now, and in
land to be, q candidate for denomination
IN tee next republican State convention,
wocid seem 10 give me q certain and I'M
Fashionable right to publicly discuss the
a~, TO state the reasons that prompted
ne 10 approve II, and to express my views
o. iss relations TO the history and future
Of legislation and politics in Maine.
| have not obtruded my opinion upon
ise people OF the State either by signed
statement or interview. IL has appeared
. ne that my business was to see, as
ssss could, that the laws were enforced,
20 10 talk about them out OF season.
ias IS the first time have ever spoken
pee!ieiy Of the Sturgis law, and ii Is also
lse nrst time ! have ever expressed an
oplnion Of the merits or defects of the
isonipitory law since my inaugural
isdress to the legislature In January, 1905.
l1s' November | had the honor and
ssessufe oil being a guest at the annual
slhhef OF the State OF Maine club of New
io,s city, and spoke extemporaneously
saa brieny upon attempted law enforce
ash IN Maine. My remarks were mis-
Npoi'ed and mIsquoted, and the demo-
aaH press in the State In particular
sesned pleased to quote me as having said
..5 sase. That the prohibitory law was a
allure in Maine.
ieapressed no opinion OF the law what
t7ef, for obvious reasons. and discussed
only the evils OF notification. i never
paoileiy denied the reports over my own
Signature. II did not seem TO me worth
:, sa w then, and refer to it now simpIv
:" !, Illustrate the carrying power OF a lie.
an ~ the summer OF 1901 the Republican
ssae convention met at Bangor, and after
: 'gtAsd contest honored me with the
- Tor governor. For many
u y tae republican party had professed
.srsr. shs 3rticular and sole champion of
,..ae legislation in this State. IL
s,,;na credit for having enacted the
timA prohihiiory laws placed from
80. 80 time upon the statute books. and
49, 80 iot snd confidently expected to re-
bsi;s,1ne moral support and votes OF sll
~ sss IN The theory that the State and
rsl muiVldual would be benefited by
ur,rls tne sale Of liquor for Thinning
poses Illegal. ''pfs
p,iss republican party was proud To be
h So. the temperance party. and il grew
sva,,. s S and numbers. For wears in
cut sx o'a.e convention, and almost with
/ ne zion IN every county convention.
srstin. ~, ies9iutions reaffirming and reit-
,ss aIie lance To the cause of bot
persd !. and prohibition, and 1T pros
,ssusm;ss vigorously repelled all idea OF
iestea a., and Overwhelmingly de-
sllow the aetsmpts in the legislature to
polls thsi,p sSyp,e 10 register again at the
iinuapee ., ATTN or disbelief in the con-
| am sU y, 'ne prohibitory laws.
'ay that ~. 20 not exaggerate when ]
D! mo., ~ twenty-five years, in the minds
!asdins, Spie, prohibition has been the
Ia its ,;neipie OF the republican party
'arthsr - 10 state issues. / will 20
sts,a and say that men familiar wifi
dids,s s ~ will agree that had any can
lrisen \, state Office during that period
md sseIn a republican State convention
'ubm;ssIased himself to be in favor OF re-
he worlS and opposed to prohibition,
he no,n; nave been denied peremptoriIy
4 t sa he sought.
isnces ~ Ears prior to 1901, however, evil
igns that Unrest M appeared, and there were
= al,ooa,sne republican party might not
irnhiL sstner sincere in its ndvocac,r a.