Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-14
RESUB EMISSION.
CONTINUED from Page Nine.)

Val" 81 ant IL, an opportunity to again
express their opinion on constitutional
prohibition. Resubmission does not
mean license. 1t only means referen-
dum pure and simple, the privilege of
merely expressing an opinion. Even if
the amendment should be taken from
the constitution by means Of this ref
erendum, prohibition would still be the
law OF the State and it would be nee
essary to still further express an opin-
ION by choosing Legislature to either
Change or retain it.
After long and troublous series Of
years the liquor question in this State
mas finally resolved itself into three diff
1erent and distinct phases. First, there
IS enforcement or non-enforcenent.
either local or from some central source
ard hope that is settled. I canno. BE-
Neve that any member Of this I.egisla-
lure, or any good citizen, desircs to 20
back to the hypocrisy. corruption and
public and private debauchery Of past
conditions. Second. there is resubmis-
sion; and third, the main question it.
self, prohibition or license. All correlat-
ed. to be sure. but each in its way indie
pendent of the other.
! do not even share the apprehension
In the principle Of resubmission but re-
grets that the legal operation of granting
It must necessarily be n condemnation
of the principles Of resubmission, a sim
pie matter Of legislative technique that
does not bar the way, n shadow caused
by no real substance. There is nothing
in either of the measures now before this
committee that condemns any principle
l1
and report still another measure looking
only 10 resubmiss;on, whatever that form
might nc, the people of this State would
regard it in substance only rs a refcren-
dunn. There is nothing whatever in tn.
practical operation of the machinery
that prevents a consistent prohibtinnist
from. being an aggressive rcsubmissicn-
ist And even if there were any and
were l a prchIbitiOnist I would still vote
for the resolve, rescrving my right of
course, to stand for my principle a tn
polls: that is if desired to be more Just
and less cpinionatcd.
I am surprised and grieved beyond
measure that the officers of the Civic
League should seize upon this technical
ity and hold 1t as q club over the domi-
nant party with the unchI istianike and
threadbare threat of 30 years. After do
ing all that has been done for temper
ance reform by their own process, r
would like to ask them by what system
of moral philosophy they denominate the
members of that party traitors if they
simply acquiesce in demand of the pc0-
pie for an opportunity to say whether
or not they desire to keep that process
in the constitution. 1t seems to me that
they should realize that rcfOrmars. to b.
potent. should be generous. and that ro-
form. to be effective, should have popular
approval.
They tell us that there has been moth.
inE rev 10 change the situation that poo
pie voted on this question only 90 years
ago and that there have been no develop
ments to warrant voting again. On the
contrary. conditions have changed mate
rally and most unfortunately.
In all the long and endless debate Of
this question which I have heard for
many years in Maine. in all classes.
say to you in the greatest sincerity and
with all the emphasis Of which I am
capable. that 7 have nnvcr heard one
valid reason why the people Of Main"
should not be granted another OpportlI-
nifty to say whether or not they desire
1t to be preserved in the constitution.
opened the case for the remonstrants.
In his usual enthusiastic manner he de-
Clared that there was not demand
from the majority Of the people for the
annulling of the Fifth amendment. For
some years he had been a worker in
the slumS Of New York ana other cities
and said that there was no doubt but
that If the State was committed to Ii
cense. it would work to its great detri-
mcnt
Rep. Gleason of Mexico then took
charge of the presentation of the case,
calling upon each of the speakers.
J. r. Libby of Portland spoke strong
ly against the proposition. placing the
many arguments in behalf Of temper
ance before the committee in worry
able manner. He branded the doctrine
as simply another scheme of the liquor
dealers to regain the standing lost
when the prohibitory law was put into
the constitution.
There was a marked difference In the
reception of the speakers remarks from
that accorded those speaking in favor
of the resolve. Applause was frequent
and 1t was decidedly evident that the
audience was largely composed Of men
and women strongly opposed to the
measure.
He also cited the experience Of other
states and the anxiety Of the business
men OF those states to return to pro-
hibition. wherever the law has been
once tried and then changed.
The speaker voiced the opinion that
the law is at present enforced better
than any other law is enforced. 1t used
to he the policy. said he. of the R"pub-
lican party. when they learned that the
Democratic party wanted principle.
to keep it out of the Republican plat
form.
II it is desired to do something then
put into the constitution a clause which
will give the Governor the right to re-
move that officer. whether it be sher-
if. county attorney or judge. who has
ideas Of his own on the law, and which
lead to notification. In closing. the
speaker requested that the committc.
carefully consider the resolve and en-
dorsa fought not to pass"