Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-13
The Sentinel Still Dodging.

sentil,-l have its way. The point is
not worth lighting about. r
The sentinel does not deny that, UNI
der provision IS of the Initiative and
itiate by petition any bill. resolve
and resolution they may see fit. and
if the Legislature fails to enact such
"D;U. resolve OF resolution" it then goes
directly to the voters OF the State to
be passed upon at a special election.
The Stntinel tried TO cvade this fact
first by declaring that the question of
retaining or abandoning the prohibi-
tory principle could not be voted
UPON. under the provisions Of tile In
i:ialive and Referendum, Finding
that this position was absolutely I'M
t"n;,h.e, and that the public could not
b" footed by any such an unwarranted
assertion. il burt forth i'll frenzy Of
mrrri.nnnt and attempted to laugh the
wnolc troublesome question off the
earth AID carry it away to Mars.
Again it met With dismal failure.
Tntr.uDun it walked several times
around the VUriisorne matter trying
10 find soiur OPT oltunity 70 hide il in
the frs Of Its aopi4istHy.
Presently il renewed its attstk fl Dn
d ne " angle. 1t asserted that il d re-
solve involving trc retaining or aban-
dining Of the proibitory principle
were initiated BY petition o. 1900 Vot-
cIs. the legislature would promptly side
rack it, so far as an express ion OF the
popular viii Wa concerned. by passing
il. IL however, it continued, the.
Legislature should b" so "CRAZY" a.
To- afford The voters ;lll opportunity to
IasS upon this great question at the
Polls - failing to pas TIE measure it
would of course defeat it and thus put
il b>f"lt the people under the weight
Of It's condemnation.
Replying to this tie Journal pointed
ont that the Sentinel had quite ignored
the fact that ii the legislature should
not pass uuoli such Il resolve at all, ii
would then Z" directly to the voters Of
the stat" in its original draft. ana
without IL gisiativc prejudice
Will" contemporary in a dcploratle state
"G nlild lii this condition it threw
out is chest and i2Sortcd to threats
The very idea that the sovereign people
ni Mti.iC should be afforded, under
c,nncntly fair ana equitable condi
tirlG;. Il chance to say at the poll;
h,tEcr or not they desired to retain
nr :tlnr"n the rr"lib:tcry principle
filled lis soul with apprehension and
r-t-,r. IN TINS n:ir,ttcd condition it
Wii'ly tdlltU upon the friends OF tn"
lnitidii.c and Refer nduln to di-clailn
til intr,t:pn t." afford the people of
Maine =" dr..irdbl" an opportunity to
expires; tiD"nsf Ives upon this great
|
Tie measure would be defeated" Tho
journal promptly accepted tn" i;auc.
EcI Is irlnihlnc it, oNtrWroupht con-
Temporary that the question Of incOr-
l'"rs tias the Initiative and Referendum
into our state constitution was one 10
be dc,idtd by the sovereign people or
Mlilr, AMI not by the Waler,illr
sentinel.
f'lidins TIA, policy of Intimidation thu
| .,t,itic>t kind IF ii failure. the Sentinel
| y ia.ly dropped IL. ana declared that
t." Legislature" Of Maine uoulG haze 10
| at upon any and every question that
! cdmr hr.ur" it. Thcreup"n we suggest
| rd that I'll" committee to which such It
follows:
| "inaNlEttch a., this resolve. if mo-
a. ted upon Ivy TINS Legislature Will 80
dire city to Il vote of the whole people
| and inaSmuCh as 1t is the expressed de-
| sire 81 The petitioners. that it should be
| 50 submitted to the voters OF the state
YOU committee reports legislation in
! tXpCGIrnt."
We htd expected that the S"rtinc
following tho line Of evasion that it has
t,'uS tax pursued would promptly as
Srrt that Legislative committee
would hay" no right t" make such q
| report. and that if it lid the cunStitu.
ti"n would prohibit the Legislature
! from accepting 1t But 1t does no. x,
i this icLSth. l. does not deny tina
the committee could make such a re
per. anC that il the legislature accept
at IL. the original resolve would the;
:" uircctly TO Il Vote uf the rcopl. a
\ SPECIAL Il, elton upon its own mGrit
and without prejudice. 1t contents it
self nth saying that such a disposition
" a resolve initiated by 1E0o0 voters
ana submitted with the request that i
he allowed to 90 to the people. would b
, "iodgiur" DIdginS V hat Ger
tiirly not the expressed wishes of til
l2.oco voters who initiated il Ger
T. taiIiN not the oOportuaity to .i\C tn