Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-02-07
Correspondence.
ResubmissioE.
Mir. DESERT, Jan. %, 1906,

our state are making great eHoft W sSt
resubmission plank into the platform OF
our next republican State corTention.
They claim that such action would not be
inconsistent on the part of our party, be-
cause. it only would be giving the people
a chance to vote directly on the subject,
and might greatly strengthen the-cause OF
enforced prohibition. This was the atti-
tude which Senator Wing took in speech
in favor of resubmission, delivered in the
Maine Senate of 1903.
The question occurs: Is such position
satisfactory? That is, IL our next repub-
lican State convention should adopt a
resolution so worded as to mean the same
as this speech, would such position oe
satisfactory to republican voters gener-
ally?
To this question l answer most en-
phatically, no. For these voters are not
going to consider resubmission as simply
a referendum without reference to its
origin, purpose or consequences. But, on
the contrary, will consider the question in
all its bearings and with special reference
to its effects on the republican party.
From this point of view the general SEN
timent will be that resubmission would be
a very reckless experiment. For it should
be kept continually in mind that it is not
a movement by the people. The people
don't want it. Very few have petitioned
for it, and many thousands have remcn-
strated against it. The forcing of
referendum on an unwilling people by
and through the influence of the politi-
clans will surely arouse a feeling OF
resentment and fierce opposition from the
very start.
think no thoughtful politician would
regard it prudent for our next State con-
vention to resolve in favor OF license
law. Yet il our platform were to endorse
sure and just as great as though the party
were committed to high license and local
option. For the mass OF the people know
that the great force behind this movement
are rumsellers and those in sympathy with
them. They know also that all the most
earnest advocate of license can possibly do
at this time is to favor resubmission.
II our party leaders were to make the
claim that the movement was made with
the desire that it would ultimately
strengthen enforced prohibition, such
claim would be looked upon as simply
politicians trick. 1t would be looked up
on as a complete surrender to the rum
sellers. 1t would be considered evident
that the management of our party
had fallen into the hands of men who are
catering to and atfiliating with the rum
interest. That means a party and gov
eminent dominated by the rum power,
and that means bad government, al,rays.
The people are fully informed as to
what the conduct of the liquor power is,
and they know Just which way its infiu-
ence has always gone in politics and gov
eminent. They know that in every case
where a fight has been made for good
municipal government, the rum power
has always thrown the full weight
of its influence in favor of those who stood
for graft and corruption. And they know
that no good will come to them or their
party from partnership with such a
power. Now If We go into a campaign
with thousands of our voters feeling like
that, it is only reasonable TO expect that
our losses will be very heavy.
The people know that with prohibition
in the constitution, the rumseller's po-
litical power is reduced to the minimum.
Take it out of the constitution, and you
give him a chance to get at every candi-
date to the legislature. Legalize his traffic
and you enable him to have a Lobby, an
organization, an oversight committee and
really bring about such conditions as will
enable him to have accurate knowledge OF
the political situation in every representa-
tive district in the State, and to make his
influence felt in the caucuses OF the small
est towns.
Can the republican party afford to ask
the people to give the rum interest such
opportunity to acquire political powers
mol The people know that they are en-
gagged in contest with an INSCRIPTIONS
foe, and they mean to make the fight
where they can make it with the greatest
advantage to themselves. They know that
with resubmission as an issue in the cam
paign there would be regular carnival of
civic iniquity, simply an opportunity for
INSCRIPTIONS men to use many thousands
of dollars OF rumsellers' money for buying
votes.
The people do not mean to give them
any such opportunity il they can prevent
it. On the contrary, believing that resub-
mission in our platform would be suicidal
to our party's interest, they will make
great effort to suppress it before it reaches
the convention. R. L. GRINDLE.
Candidate Tor Shartry