Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-12
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
Gov. Cobb's Speech at Deerina.

Iilor" honOrable and brilliant declar-
ation of views and principles than that
made by Gov. William T. Cobb at the
banquet of the Deering Republican club
in Portland Friday evening.
1t vas remarkably vivid eXplana-
ton of his personal position in TIL"
rum situation" of
Maine and 10 listener at the banquet or
subsequent reader in the public prints
could contend for an instant that he
did not clearly and definitely under
stand where the governor stood in this
important matter and what his action
will be as long as he remains the chief
executive of the State
In brief. the governor maintained
that the Republican platform of 1904
pledged to the people of the State the
rigid enforcement of the prohibitory
amendment: that the people indicated
by their ballots they desired such en-
forcement, and that he declared on the
stump and otherwise that he would
faithfully keep the party's pledge to
the people. He has done so to the best
of his. ability.
If there had been any doubt of the
governors sincerity in the premises
and we believe there was not the
slightcst-it must be entirely dispelled
by mis- present declaration. We are
convinced not a single person i'll the
whole State questioned for an instant
the governors integrity in this matter.
but. If there was such an one. he no
longer has any reason to maintain Il
claim of that character. No one could
impugn the honesty of the executive
after this splendid offering.
1t seems to us that the issue is by
this speech. brought squarely before
the people of Maine. and they are the
arbiters against whose decision there is
no power to appeal, No longer is there
any room for argument on this side or
that; there is no opportunity for dis
elimination. no opening for halfway
measures; no further shall there be
thought of different methods or plans
Of handling the rum traffic: no loop
holes are left for equivocation or gen.
eralization.
Snuarely before the people of the
State of Maine is this question put:
Shall prohibition maintain?
So the question comes to the people
Of the commonwealth. as to whether or
not the governor shall be maintained in
his position, or whether the impatient
Democratic party shall be at once Civ
en- full control Of the State and "A Ii
c"nse system for the traffic in intoxi-
eating liquors be established. "Resub-
mission" or ''the peoples right or
some other catch-penny cry may be
adopted. but the fight from now on is
solely on the point of whether or not
the people want prohibition or the
legally permitted sale of intoxicants.
There are those who believe in
gradual prohibition, on the ground that
even under the most rigid system of
enforcement. men whose systems crave
Liquor will in some way find an oppor-
tunity to secure it and that the gradual
wedding out of those unfortunatcs will
lead to a complete prohibition as times
lead to a complete prohibition as time
goes on, but there is now no room for
no opportunity TO grow
into a thorough eradication Of the
liquor evil.
Enforced prohibition. as the term is
used by the governor. is to prevail. al
least. for the present. If it proves OBJ
Jectionahle to the people. they have the
power in the ballot to change the exist
ing order Of things and the decision of
a majority of the voters of the COM
is beyond any appeal
The fight is on. Against the adher-
cntS of the license system are 4rrayed
the temperance men of Maine and those
Republicans of the State who believe
that the party has by it's honesty and
y,rit,. .it,la Il
good government and brought about
and unbOunded prosperity.
and these allied forces must stand or
fall together. meeting the enemy on
common ground. No simple and easy
is that ahead; there can be
no resting on the field: no quiet waiting
for something pleasant or ADVANTAGE
Gus to turn up. 1t is fight all along the
line from this time henceforth, until
the contest is decided.
1t bchoOves both sides to grid their
armor on and more especially do the
men Of the temperance cause need to
come forward into the fray. equipped
for earnest and energetic warfare.
For. If the people who stand by the
cause of prohibition would see their
cause remain triumphant they must be
ready to do battle to the last gun.
There is no room for shirkers or shirk-
ing. lack of energy. properly directed.
is sure to result in disaster.
There are other considerations before
the people, however. and they must not
be lost sight of in the general excite
ment. Gov. Cobb and the Republican
party are standing by the declarati tions
and fulfilling the pledges made to the
people on the prohibition issue in the
last campaign, but they do not lose
sight of matters of equal Importance to
the commonwealth and which must not
be lost sight Of at the present time.
Said the governor:
Il am a Republican,. but my own
political faith is not measured by the
standard Of prohibition alone. I want
to see the Republican party succeed
and retain control of the State govern
ment and legislature because / believe
that in its hands the economic and
social interests of Maine are best con-
served. There are other questions vital
to the States welfare that, temporarily
pushed in the BACKGROUND by this in