The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-10

Acacy OF the principle OF tne lnillatIve
ana referendum as means 70 enable
the citizens to express more directly
and promptly their opinion 81 pro
posed legislation has become very
general in Maine, and has been recog-
nlzed in the platforms of both politi-
cal parties. We may safely assume,
therefore, that these declarations
were made in good faith, and l heart
~ approve the adoption OF a measure
tnat shall give them a practlcal and
binding effect The friends OF the
principle have a very clear knowledge
OF us meaning and purposes, and will
vigorously oppose any effort that may
pc made to grant form at the expense
OF substance.
also advocate and recommend a
revision of the statutes governing the
metnod of balloting for elective offices
| az the polls. Every reasonable facil-
ity should be furnished the voters to
| exercise his right of suffrage in secret
ana 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-
lion is both proper and essential, but
II should be the servant of the voter,
not his master And this principle if
admitted to be a correct one, should
Do applied to the regulation of the
proceedings at primaries, SO that
every safeguard thrown about the
maj action of the voter at the polls
may be at his disposal during all the
preliminaries attending the selection
OF candidates.
l 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
lndlHerence of employers must be per-
m1tted 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 children 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
tlment and traditions of its early con-
secra tion, that it seems almost a
mockery to publicly ask for it's recog-
milton and then see it's original spirit
SO universally perverted and ignored
l believe that our people generally
would not approve lessened number
OF holidays. and that we have none
too many legalized 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 its observance
shall bear some reasonable relation
to its avowed purpose, | recommend
that it 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. recog-
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 i'm
posed upon them by their oath of Of
flee. Probably no single piece of leg
1slatlon placed on our Statute Books
has ever caused so much general dis
cussion OF created such intense and
bitter differences of opinion and dis
sessions as the Sturgis law | cherish
no illusions in regard to it. | know
1T 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 ci9csi tie swelling move
ment for Il liberal and cosmopolitan
treatment Of the iCGor problem. |
know that a hostile sentiment hastens
to censure not only the law itself. but
the nea charged With H.; enforcement
mad their methods. Their failures a1o
magailed and r1dtculed. their success
es overlooked or belittled. their sin
eerity Of purpose and honesty OF nc
tive openly and often malicicusly
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, not 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 by the Enforcement
Commission full and complete re-
port of the operation of this law and
a statement of all the expense attend
ing it. Upon it's publication it is to be
expected that this whole question will
be opened for debate by the members
of this assembly and this debate will
be welcomed by ALL At the present
time the Deputy Enforcement Com
missioners are withdrawn from all the
Counties. This course was simply
an act of justice to the incoming sher-
ifs, and the insinuation that 1t was
prompted by any other motive might
have been withheld in all fairness I'M
til later date. If it becomes appar-
~E al MT nrod n