Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-04
Friday, january 4, 1907.
Governor Cobb's Message.

or Cobb's message which is published
in the Journal and the other newspa-
pers of the State this morning, but
every citizen Of the State, who has d
desire for it's welfare, pride in it's pro 2
ress and interest in the making and
enforcement Of it's laws, should give
the message equally careful perusa1.
The address is not long one, occupy
ing about six newspaper columns. and
its reading is made the more pleasant
from the clear and vigorous style in
which it is written. Governor Cobb.
both as a speaker and as a writer, is
a master Of strong and expressive Eng
lish, and this message to the 73d Leg
islature, like its predecessor two years
ago, is a model of it's kind. Just the
right word is employed In every in
stance and no unnecessary words are
used.
But of course the interest in this
first official utterance Of Governor
Cobb, as he enters upon his second
lcTiH VI OliCc, lies HoI III Tie purity
and strength of the English in which
1t is expressed, but rather in the sub
jects considered and the recommend
atoms made. No gubernatorial mes
sage for many years has been await
Cd with such general interest through
out the State as this, and of course
the greater part of this interest CEN
tcrs in what Governor Cobb had to say
regarding the enforcement commission
and the all important topic of resub-
mission. His defence OF the origin and
operation of the Sturgis law as an
honest attempt to prevent nullifica-
ton of the prohibitory law is an am
pie reply to the arguments criticisms
and accusations which have been di-
rccted against this law from various
sources. Governor Cobb cherishes no
Illusions in regard to the Sturgis law
and he realizes clearly the bitter diff
fcrcnccs Of opinion which have result
cd from its enactment but he stands
by his position that such law was
to be preferred to notification, and that
IL trial Of it was made imperative by
existing conditions in various parts of
the State. Governor Cobb truly de-
tlarcs that the day of open and easy
notification is passed in Maine. Pub
lie sentiment and all the moral forces
OF the state have been aroused and
arraycd against it and it will never
return" The Governor challenges
those who OPPOSE the Sturgis law to
support II, or to propose and support
some other measure which will adj
vance the cause of enforcement as
well. He welcomes a debate of the
whole question by the Legislature, but
urges that this debate is delayed I'M
til a full and complete report of the
operation of the Sturgis law is placed
before the Legislature by the enforce
ment commission. Until that report
appears. which is promised for an car
ly date. judgment and criticism should
be suspended
From the discussion Of the Sturgis
law to the question of resubmssion is
natural step and Governor Cobb does
not shrink from speaking frankly and
plainly upon that subject. In brief nj;
attitude is that resubmiss;on is de-
sirabe if it can be had without taking
the form of an avowed attack upon the
ll.fn DOL f1,nt
there can he little or no opposition to
the reasonably plain and unencumbcr-
ed proposition to place the original
question. before the voters again for
their approval or rejection, but deems
1t unfortunate that as a preliminary
step to resubmission public prejudice
must be excited by premature and I'M
necessary legislative condemnation OF
the prohibitory law.
In brief. Governor Cobb is in favor
of rcsubmission. both because he be-
lieves in the principle of the refcren-
DUN and because he believes that the
people of Maine will rally to reaffirm
their belief in the prohibitory law and
to strengthen and advance the cause
of temperance. With such recon-
merdation from the Chief Executive
at the opening Of the session, and in
view of the well-known sentiment of
the members Of the Legislature-a
sentiment based upon the desires of
the people whom they Representatives,
can seem to be no doubt that the
necessary two-thrds vote will be Sc
cured to pass resubmission resolve at
the present session Of the Legislature.
These subjects of the Sturgis law and
resubmission were reserved by Cover
nor Cobb for the closing part of his
message, but in its earlier part many
matters are considered which are also
of much interest to the State. and
many sound recommendations made