Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-22
Resubmission Plebiscite.
portland PreSs.)

In connect ton with some resolutions
passed by temperance meeting at
South Paris, the Lewiston Journal
clucitlates its proposition that after the
adoption of the initiative and refer
enduni amendment a constitutional
WAY will be open for a referendum on
the rcSubrlission question. when the
referendum is in the constitution" the
Journal said, 'any resolve for which
1900 people appeal car be passed
over to the popular vote at regular
election" The meeting at which the
resolutions were passed was the so
called court temperance meeting held
annually in oxford county and said 10
be probably the only temperance gath
erins of the kind in this part Of the
country. 1t was held at the Supreme
court room, with Hon. James :.
Wright eX-county attorney, as pre-
siding officer. The speakers We're Mr..
Wright, Rev. f. c. Cotton. Clerk of
Courts Charles F. Whitman. r. l.,
Taylor of Mexico. Hon. John Z. Swa-
sey of Canton, J. Ii. Bean. register OF
deeds, and County Comnissiont L
Faunce. The resolutions, which werc'
| drafted by Mr.. Whitman. run as fol-
lows:
Resolved. that We are unalte:ably
opposed t" the politicians scheme of
| resubmission which means the repeal
| of the prohibitory law and the substi-
| tuition of the license system.
Resolved. that We cordially vel
| come a p!ebiscite on tile Question at
q special election unmiXed with any
other issue as to whether the pro-
hibitory law in the state Of its origin
shall remain on the statute books.
1t will be observed that this calls
| for a piebfscite or poplar vote on the
| question of rcsubmiSsion at a special
| election called for the purpose. ana
| that it makes no reference to the con-
| stitution or to the pending constitu-
| tional amendment. The Journal Ell.
dorses the resolutions: as oinhodyine
its own platform. and after quoting
| the popular initiative sections of the
amendment says that under them ''12,
0t0 voters have the clear right TO ash
| the Maine Legislature to submit to :
| popular ballot a resolve declaring
| Against the repeal OF our prohibitcr!
| laws or declaring against resubmis
| SION"
| So this is the way. it appears. by
| which it is proposed to get an expires
| sion of public opinion by other thar
| The road Of constitutional aInendne
There may be something in that The
| amendment provides that l2.000 elec
| tors may propose to the Legislator,
| for its consideration any hill. resolv,
! or resolution. including bills t. ta,ent
or repeal emergency Legislation. bu
! not an amen lElent of the State con
Istitution." And unless enacted with
out change by the Legislature. it shall
be submitted to the electors. The ties
then is whether q resolve declarin;
against repeal of the prohibitnry law
| or against resubmiSSion would in Of
feet be a propositio to amend tn
| constitution. Obviously MOI, for
would be in form at least agains
amending the constitution. Hence i
seems feasible in this way by lega
ton to get the sense of the people ~
the question. and to have it done at
| special election when there are n
other issues to distract And VIVA
| then Suppose a majority OF the PEG
pie vote against repeal or reSubmiS
! sion. That would settle it that it wa
useless to agitate furihe for the af
tirmative. On the other hand. if thor
| should be ma iOrity for repeal or re
! submission. ii would be in order 70
the next Legislature to respond to tn
expression Of the popular will by sub
hitting an amendment by a tWo-third
vote in the regular way provided.
| But there is another point to b
considered. The Popular initial ion i
qualified. "JTnIcsS enacted Wjtbou
change by the Legislature" says tn
amendment. And again: "If tn
measure initiated is enacted by th
Legislature without change it shall
not go to a referendum vote unless il
| pursuance of Il demand made in AZ
cordance with the preceding section.
The demand referred to appears to b.
in the provision that if so requested
IN the petition for the reference to tn
people Of bills. acts, resolves or raso
measure submitted to the vote of TIL
people at special election. Strict,
speaking. this seems to mean referred
and not initiated measures, but Their
might not be insstence on too fin
ha ir-splitting.