Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-08-16
Tremendous Enthusiasm Over the Tell
ing Points Made by Both Speakers.
Gov. Cobb Talks on Enforcement ---Cong. Little
field on Matters Of National Interest.

Bethel. Me-, Aug. ia rousing Re-
publican rally was held last night in
Odeon hall and nearly 500 people gave
Gov. Cobb and Congressman Littlefield
an enthusiastic greeting and careful at
tcntion and great applause for their
ringing speeches. 1t was one of the
best meetings ever held here and the
olG-time enthusiasm was apparent on
every side. The audience was repre-
sentative one and most of them linger-
cd after the speaking was over to meet
Gov. Cobb and Congressman Littlefield
and ensure them of their cordial sup
port. Editor Bowler of the Bethel News
presided.
Gov. Cobb was the first speaker He
dwelt on state issues and devoted Il
large part of his time to the enforce
inent OF the prohibitory law. He told
them that he was glad the Legislature
mad given him the Sturgis law and the
power 10 enforce the prohbitory stat
ute.
The prohibitOry law was one of long
standing in Maine. He believed that
forced. He had done his best to en-
force it and should continue to do 50
as long as he remained the Chief Ex-
ecutive of the State of Maine. What
his successors should do was of no con-
sequence to him.
He was performing the duties Of the
office as he felt honesty and candor
required him to do. When the people
f,f Moi oF
tory law they would get rid of it. Until
that time it was the duty Of the Chief
Executive Of the State and every Off
cor in the state to do his best to en-
force it.
1t was possible to secure this enforce
,nent by means Of the Sturgis law
Until the Legislature passed. the law
the Chief Executive could 90 nothing
towards securing onfcrC emnt. He might
request sheriffS To d. their duty and
enforce the law. hut he Could not COM
pei them. Now if these shcriffs and
other officers did not do what the law
said they should the Governor had
the power t0 act in his own hands.
lie could send tn" enforcement COM
mission into those localities and they
would enforce the Law. 1t was through
TINS sn-called Sturgis bill that tho State
of Maine could honestly enforce the law
against tie sale Of intnN!cpnts
No one realized better than did he the
defects in TIE SturGis law He understood
what they were. brt the law on the
who'll was the best that had been enact
I'd for some time.
If the pcopir of the different counties
in the State did not wish the enforce
mcnt commission in their borders. they
had the remedy in Their own hands. All
| that was necessary was to elect mon to
office who would enforce the law. DO this
and there would be no need of the en-
| forcement commission in any county in
tho State. In was only when the men
who were in office refused or neglected
to co their duty that the enforcement
| deputies were sent to those localities. He
| wculd rather that the shcriffs would en-
| force the law than to send the enforce
ment deputies in them.
| The Governor referred to the cost of
the enforcement commission and pointed
out. a, in his speech ut Alfred week
| ago today, dat the expense had been
hut slight. only 4 few cents upon each
individual! IN the State.
| Congressman Littlefield spoke in the
same vein which characterized his pre-
viOus speeches during the campaign. He
devoted a bit more attention to the com
rulsory pilotage law and the injunction
law than he has in his other speeches.
Referring to the compulsory pilotaga
law the speaker said that he was opposed
| to it because it placed an unnecessary
and unjust burden upon the sailing ships
OF the United States. He did not believe
that it was just or equitable for the own
Iers of vessels. captains and mates of
which were thoroughly competent to take
the crafts into any port, to be obliged to
Ipay for pilots services which they did
not need. That was exactly what the
compulsory pilotage law did. The ner-
chant marine of the country had suffi-
lcient burdens to bear these days without
being obliged to pay unnecessary eX-
lpenseS, such as this.
From Wilmington. n. c., to the Rio
Grande, said Mr.. Lttlefield, no vesse
could enter harbor without being oolig
ed to pay this pilotage fee, whether {
pilot was used or not.
Realizing that his hearers were no
sailors and were little acquainted Will
the shipping interests. Mr.. Littleaeld ex