Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-31
The Lewiston Sun and the Prohibitory
Principlc

and uut advocate of license III dealing
with the saloon. naturally ciings to the
ol,l-fasilioned method of dealing with
tine question of prohibition by Sub
mitting to the people at a regular cleo
ton d resolve repeating the prohibitory
amendment resolve that would go
before the voters with all the prestige
from the standpoint of the liquor in
tctc:ts-of d tWo-thirds endorsement
of the legislature. ana the sun solemn
~ affirns its opinion that this is the
best way to deal with the question.
While we differ very radically from the
Sun Oh this question. We admire it for
meeting the issue suudleiy ami honest
ly. 1t does not, like the Water.-il!r Senti-
mel undertake to Dodge il by affirming
that Il resolve declaring against
repeal Of the I,roll.hitory law would
have no Standing under the pro-
visions Of The Initiative and Eeferen-
dunn and could not be voted upon
Strong ;s is his advocacy az ril-tasil-
i,ncd political rHsubnssirn IL the i'll
ter, sts Of the saloon. tn" editor of the
sun is too clvdr-n..tu,d dud honest Il
man to maze the mistake that the
Sentinel has been guilty OF. He does
not resort to such methods. He does not
deny The right of the people under the
Referendum to pass upon the question
OF retaining or abandoning the pro-
hibtory principle. at 4 special election
when the whole matter would be con-
tirCly free frc m partisan politics: but
simply affirms his opinion that this is
not the best way of getting at the uues-
ton. ana gives his reasons. The first
of these is that it would take TWO years
longer to secure the repeal of the pro-
hibtory amendment if the will OF the
people regarding the great question of
abandoning or retaining the prohibitory
principle were it first submitted to the
people hN means oil a resolve against
abandonment submitted to popular
vutc through the Initiative and Refer
endun. This would be true only in
the event that the people pronounced
against maintaining the prohbitory
overwhelmingly vote in favor of main
tanning it. as We believe would be the
case. tho whole matter would be settled
year sooner than would be possible
through the submission. by d two
thirds vote of the Legislature. of a re-
solve repeating the prohibitOry amend
mcnt to the constitution. The propo-
sition, therefore, when viewed from
BOTH sides instead of one, would seem
to pc about as broad as it is long, save
that the aScertaining of the popular
will through the Initiative and Refer
endum would have the very great adj
vantage of presenting the question
fairly, upon its own merits. and free
tic.
y .,aE the sun contends that Il popu-
lar vote through the Initiative and
Referendum. would have no legal value.
This is not necessary. The moral Ell
feet OF ID decisive vote one way or the
other would be quite sufficient to settle
the whole question for MANY years 10
come.
The sun is furthermore troubled by
the. fear that ii special election called
lc pass upon this question might be
complicated by the consideration Of Il
number of other questions. Let not
It's soul be troubled on this account
The law provides Il means whereby this
sitc,pd alone and OF its own merits.
and the voters will not begrudSe any
expense that may he involved in Sc
curing such a fair and free considera
ton OF 1t. The Sun is also of the
opinion that Il reference of this whole
question to an expression of the popu-
lar VII. through a resolve that would
come within the provisions Of the
Initiative and Referendum Would DC "a
COW ardly dodge TO get rid of Disagree
able sponsiblty." We don't view
il in this light Heretofore the advo-
Gates of resubmission have harpcd
in season and out. upon the right Of
the people to vote upon the prohibitOry
principle. Now that an opportunity is
aft, .dcd, under the Initiative and Ref
erendum for the voters of the State to
express their wishes upon this question
at Il special election where it could be
considered solely upon its own merits.
We learn from these same papers that
their desire is not merely that the vot-
ers be given Il chance to express them
selves upon this question at the polls;
but also that it be unfairly submitted
to them from the saloon end. with the
practical endorsement of two-thirds Of
fh.a | a