Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-04

fore the last Legislature there were
three ways by which the notification
Of the prohibitory law could have been
prevented: First, by -dutiful action OF
the local officials: second, by the re-
peal Of the prohibitory law itself in
voiving resnbmission and the adoption
of some method Of license to regulate
the liquor traffic, and third by the au-
thoriza:lon and exercise Of powers.
similar to those granted the Enforce
n1ent Commissioners under the Stur-
gis law The local officials could not
or would not act, prohibition continued ;
to be the policy of the State and a.
trial of the Sturgis law was impera- !
tive. l am attempting TO discuss the
measure purely as means to prevent
notification. and believe that a large
majority of the law-abiding citizensi
of the State, irrespective OF party, sub
stautially agree that the law was nee.
existence. The day OF open and easy
notification of the prohibitory law
has passed in Maine. Public senti-
ment and all the moral forces of the
State have been aroused and arrayed
against it, and it VIII never return.
With al! the clamor against the ex-i
pense Of the Sturgis law, with all the
cutlery alleging political trickery, in.
sincerity and cowardice on the part Of
its sponsors and its ofhcials, still
hold to the opinion that the people Of
Maine believe that notification is in
finitely worse than any law which
seeks to prevent 1t, and respectfully
submit that it 10 incumbent upon
every man who believes in the princi-
pie of law-enforcement as indispensa-
bic to the cause Of good government
and good citizenship, 10 support the
Sturgis law or to propose and support
some other measure which will ad-
vance that cause as well.
The attempt to secure better en-.
forcement Of the prohibitory law by
means of the Enforcement Commits
sion has brought the resubmission
question into such prominence that
failure to refer to 1t in this address
would invite grave misunderstanding
The statement will stand unc1al.
lenged that speculation on the action
this Legislature may take in dealing
with resubmission is causing more
comment and exciting more interest
than any other topic of public moment
in Maine. I enter upon brief dis
cussion of this question with reluc-
lance. not because of the lack of con.
yictions or an unwilliHgness to ex.
press them. but simply because of the
| doubt in my mind as to my ability to
present some of its phases without
| violating the proprieties of an occa-
sion upon which references to party
politics are neither expected nor de-
sired.
Every thoughtful and fair-minded
student Of political conditions in
Maine must admit that there is very
strong sentiment in favor of the prop
ositien to give the voters an Oppcrtun-
| ity to express at the polls their cpin-
ion OF the present prohibitory law.
| While this sentiment may not be that
| of the majority now. 1t surely is held
by a very large minority of our citi-
! gems, and the results of the September
elections last year seem to furnish a
complete justification of this conclu-
sion II is true that the temperance
legislation on our Statute Books was
placed there during the domination
of one political party, and it is also
! true that nearly every person opposed
to the prohibitory law and its en-
forcement favors resubmission. But
it may be asserted with equal truth
that a belief in the prohibitory law Is
not confined to the adherentS of either
of the two great parties. and that
! the desire for resubmission Is not con-
fined to the enemies Of that law
| There are many men, earnest and sim
cere in their advocacy and support of
| temperance and enforced prohibition
who believe those principles will be
jeopardized by their reSubmission TO
the people under the only method by
which this can be accomplished at
this time. To them the cause of pro-
hibition is OF far greater importance
than the success either of Republican.
ism or Democracy, and to promote
and conserve that cause they organ
ICED and maintained the Prohibition
party. But they cheerfully sacrificed
their own organization in behalf Of
the greater principle, and allying
themselves with another party be-
cause Of its promise to enforce the
prohibitory law and its opposition to
Eesubmission, contributed largely to
It's success. These men feel that re-
submission granted by this Legisla-
ture would be distinct and unpardon-
OF many who worked for and helped
| ltS pTScSS/. AASS
tdss resubsSaGGsea Is lis prppoeed
form is b1ov - ,DEoafnfttOn sa3 n
attack on temperance. aud rs0d1e 70
endorse the suggest5oa fda3 tAo peo
pie are entitled to vote Oh an sxaRn&
ment to the Constitution when . very
large number nave Enthusiastically AE-
nifIed desire to that eject.
It is extremely unfortunate for What
conceive to be the true canse OF
temperance that q resolution to resub-
NIT the prohibitory amendment must
be in form at least a practical con
demnation by the Legislature Of the
present policy Of prohibition. and not
the authorization Of simple refereh.
dunn to ascertain the peoples views.
4 Were it not for this fact and the prob.
able effect that the mere passage oi
such a resolution would have upon
the friends Of the prohibitory move.
ment everywhere, l believe there
would be little or no opposition to the
reasonable, plain and unencumbersd
proposition to place the original ques-
ton before the voters again for their
| rr hot Ii.