Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-01-09
GOV. COBB'S MESSAGE
Continued from page 81

lily approve the adoption of a measure
that shall give them a practical and
binding effect. The friends of the
principle have very clear knowledge
of its meaning and purposes, and will
vigorously oppose any effort that may
be made to grant form at the expense
Of substance.
| also advocate and recommend
revision of the statutes governing the
method of balloting for elective offices
at the polls. Every reasonable facil-
ity should be furnished the voter to
exercise his right of suffrage in secret
and without fear or favor, and his de-
sire and privilege to register his pref
erence for any individual nominee or
candidate should not be hampered or
defeated by the opportunities OF
party organization. Party organiza-
ton 10 both proper and essential, but
1t should be the servant of the voter,
net his master. And this principle II
admitted to be correct one, should
be applied to the regulation of the
proceedings at primaries, so that
every safeguard thrown about the
final action Of the voter at the polls
may be at his disposal during all the
preliminaries attending the selection
Of candidates.
1 especially urge you to change and
improve the laws bearing upon the
question Of child labor in this State.
Maine is tagging here and the chill
dren themselves are helpless. You
must be their champions, and neither
the thoughtlessness of parents nor the
indifference Of employers must be per-
mitted to interfere with the perform
ance of the States manifest duty to
provide, as best she may, for the NOR
al, physical and educational welfare
of these cG.iiren to whom unfortun-
ately so many of the pleasures and op-
portunities OF childhood are denied.
The present manner of observing
Fast Day contains SO little of the sen.
timent and traditions of it's early CON
secration, that it seems almost a
mockery to publicly ask for its recog-
milton and then see its original spirit
SO universally perverted and ignored
| believe that our people generally
would not approve lessened number
of holidays. and that we have none
too many legal!zed now and devoted
by common consent to recreation and
pleasure. But unless the name of this
particular holiday be changed so that
the expected manner of it's observance
shall bear some reasonable relation
to its avowed purpose, l recommend
that 1t be abolished.
Two years ago, speaking in this
place and under similar Circumstance
es, ventured the assertion that the
public condition resulting from the
notification of the prohibitory law
was the greatest Issue confronting the
people of Maine. The Representatives
OF THE people met that issue, recoy-
nized its Importance and the Sturgis
law was enacted, measure designed
for no purpose other than to correct
or lessen the evils of notification.
Under its provisions the Enforcement
Commission was appointed, and for
about eighteen months Maine has wit
messed the unusual spectacle of men
| clothed with legal authority, but oper-
ating directly through Executive op-
ton and initiative, performing some
| of the functions of certain officials
elected by popular vote, who either
| wilfully or lacking both courage and
| ability have neglected the duties inn
| posed upon them by their oath of Of
fee. Probably no single piece of leg.
| islation placed on our Statute Books
has eNci Stuocu 81 uuCu SeutTdl QlS-
| cussion or created such intense and
| bitter differences of opinion and dis.
sensions as the Sturgis law l cherish
no illusions in regard to it. l know
| it is condemned by many as false in
| principle and contrary to the spirit OF
our institutions, expensive, inefficient,
| the outgrowth of political necessity
and the last desperate attempt of fan
atheism to check the swelling move
| ment for liberal and cosmopolitan
| treatment of the liquor problem.
know that a hostile sentiment hastens
to censure not only the law itself, but
the men charged with its enforcement
aad their methods. Their IasIures are
faagnifed and Yidicu1ed. their success
es overlooked or beiittled. their sin
certify Of purpose and honesty OF mo
| tive openly and often maliciouslJ
| questioned, and the belief assiduously
cultivated and encouraged that they
are the known disturbers of the peace
the real enemies Of order. But these
arguments. criticisms and accusations
are neither unanswerable nor unas-
sailable. Many of them are palpably
superficial and unfair, and the Sturgis
law will stand or fall by fair presen-
tation of the facts and their rigorous
analysis, rot by the demands of self
interested prejudice or the exigencies
and hopes of any political party.
There will be placed before you at
an early date Nv the Enforcement
Croup can positively be stopped in 20 min