Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-29

I SiffllidT eVudiy e.
fective measure takes from the Execu-
tive all power to enforce the prohibj-
tory law when necessary and in my
Judgment protects and encourages the
notification of all law. 1 cannot assent
to this proposition and therefore l de-
cline IL sign the bill.
(SiGned9 William r. Cobb,
Governor of the State of Maine
Dated March 28th, 1907.
The reading of the message was re-
ceived with applause.
On motion of Mr.. Weeks of Fairfield,
the vote was reconsidered whereby the
bill was I.assed TO be enacted.
Mr.. Weeks moved that the main
question be now put and that it be
taken as provided by the constitution
by yea and nay vote.
(Mr. Smith of Patten, in the chairD
Mr.. POWERS of Houlton: Mr.. Chair
man and Gentlemen of the House, be-
fore that vote is taken l wish to say a
few words. 1 was invited this morning
by the gentleman from Portland (M".
Tolman) to come upon the floor and
snap tht rarty whip. | do not propose
to do that but I do wish to submit Il
few things for your consideration.
which perhaps you have not considered
or thought Of l wish to call your at
tention for Il moment to certain figures
which you can find by looking at the
records of the votes which have been
cast in this State for the last II years.
In 1896 Governor Powers received s.
800 votes. That vas at the time of the
Presidential election. Two years atte-
that, in what we call the off year ne
~ ayt-it CT
many votes as he did in the President
ial election year. within 2S,606 votes. II
YOU had had the Sturgis law at that
time what a cry and a howl would have
gone UP that the Sturgis law was the
cause of that falling off of that 2S60b
votes. In 1900 Governor Hill received
7047O votes. This was Presidential
year. In the next year. the off year, he
received 63 .354 votes, not so many as
he received the year before within TO-
ZIG votes. In 1904 Governor Cobb re-
ceived 1852 votes. and in 1906 Cover
nor Cobb received 69,427 votes, falling
off with tie off year only 1855 votes.
You and | know something of the war
that was waged here last fall. You
know and l know that this Sturgis Law
was called the Cobb-Sturgis law. and
the Governor of Maine because he hal
requested that some law might be pass
ed so that this prohibitory law might
be enforced and you know that there
was an able young man pitted against
him This last fail. You know and re-
member the hard fought campaign thu :
we all had, and after that was said
against him as Governor of this State
l1
votes than his TWO predecessors had
How many more? Governor Cobb re-
ceived 69,427 votes last fall. Governor
Powers received in 1898 $4,000. Cover
nor Cobb after that fight which meant
his very life, received 15,o23 votes more
than did Governor Powers. (Appiauseo
He received Sob votes more than did
Governor Hill. with all the fight that
was made against him.
What is there. gentlemen that should
cause the Republican party of this
State to fear the result i'll two years
from now? Is there anything Don't
YOU think the opposition to the Repub-
lcan party have got to get some other
thing beside the criy of more rum IN
order to down the Republican party N
two years from now? Our should BE-
that OIL TIE SCOlli>li Ilsiil, h0lthi'h ioSN'
stand sure" Gentlemen. you have no
occasion to fear the result in two year;
from now, with such showing as THAI
of Governor Cobb. who notWithStani-
ing all that was said against him, not
withstanding the great fight that was
made against him in the campaign,
won out with 1888 votes more thar
Governor Power III the off year. and
6.O73 votes more than Governor Hill.
Now, gentlemen, you may have been
reading in the Waterville Sentinel and
you may have seen by that paper that
at one time l was a Democrat. I ara
not ashamed OF it, What has been wOr-
rying me was that perhaps the Demo-
cratic party might be ashamed Of it.
But I do not propose because | was
once a Democrat to vote with the DEM
ocratic party at this time. Tbs re-
minds me of a fellow il my coun.y o.
Aroostook, who had mule. and lie
was riding the mule through the streets
Of the town. and he was the poorest
mule I ever saw His bones stuck out
like the picks of a hay-rack and you
could see his ribs as plain as you could
one of these old-fashioncd hoop skirts
that the ladies used to wear. He was
and saying this is the best mule in.
Aroostook county" "a man was leaning
up against the fence perhaps a little
drunken than the man on the mule, and
as he came down where he was he said,
THAT is a blamed smart mule" and
the rider said, what do YOU know
about this mule?" why" he said
Il see the buzzards had MIN and h"
got away" Gentlemen. 1 got away.
(Applause0 I do not propose at this
time to give any consolation to the
Democratic party by voting with them.
There are some in the Republican party
who may feel it is their duty 10 do 50,
even after what has been said by the
Governor in this veto message that we
were opposed to the notification of
law, after the adoption Of this resolu-
ton by the Republican party, we
commend and endorse the firm stand
of Governor Cobb in his courageous
and comnlendable enforcement of the
laws. ard especially of the prohibitory
law which the people of Maine have
f1,ai 81 int