Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-14

of this State? Now, when it comes to
a question of prohibition, let us vote
upon prohibition. When ii comes to a
question of license let us vote upon Ii
cense. The gentleman from Brooks is
not willing that the people should
have voice in this matter of the con-
stitution. Why not? If you are not
afraid of the people, if a majority of
the voters of the State of Maine are
in favor of the amendment. in Heav-
ems name why don't you let them say
so once more and eliminate this queS-
ton from politics for the next twenty
years? L believe you are afraid to
submit 1t to the people and that Is thr
reason why You are opposed to it.
know | should never vote for a rum
shop, but | am in favor of reSubmis-
sion because / believe there is de-
mand sufficient SO that the people
ought to have that right. The gentle
man from Brooks says that there are
no petitions here in favor of reSubmis-
sion. Why? Because we have taken
no action towards getting petitions.
iOuld go to my town today and | could
bring you a petition Of 100 as good
Republicans as there are in the State
of Maine in favor of reSubmisSion
Let us be honest on this question
am opposed to rum in all its FORMS
but | believe in the people ruling. and
if they are in favor of resubmission
let US give them chance to vote
upon it and settle this question for the
next generation. l am getting to be
an old man, | have seen Il good deal
of this world, and as true as the sun
is in the heavens today, if we don't
get resubmission this year the day will
come when YOU have q Legislature
that will carry out the voice of the
majority of the people of this State
and will rcsubmit this question to the
people. Remember my prophecy. CAP
plause)
Mr.. THOMAS Of Howland-Mr. Speak
er and fellow representatives. | would
not feel that 1 was doing justice to my
constituents. no my party or TO myself
to sit here and listen to the arguments
upon this great question without u voice
in the matter. First. my constituents
who. knowing my sentiments and hay
ing placed the utmost confidence in me
as a temperance man, would turn in
scorn from me if they should know 7
did not stand by the principle they know
[ 50 firmly believe in. Second, NY own
convictions in this matter would be
enough to arouse my feeling on this
great question. Gentlemen, to me this is
one of the most important questions that
could possibly come before this Iagis-
lature-one that touches the hearts of
tens of thousands of fathers. mothers
brothers and sisters, who are today look
ing with earnest hearts hearts and eager
eyes to tie doingS of this legislature
and I hope and pray that VIC shall be
guided honestly ana unscIfishly in tbs
matter locking forward to the better
mont of the moral conditions of human
ity and never losing sight Of the fact
that this noble temperance principle was
established in the platform of the Re
publican party when first that party had
its birth; and 7 tell YOU. gentlemen, if
there lis one thing that would cause M.
to depart from the Republican party it
would lie the drawing of one single nail
from that temperance planiI that was so
firmly nailed into the platform so many
years ago.
It is said by the friends of resubmission
and it seems to be one of their strong
points. that il we had high license sa-
State that is now going out of the State
We will allow this to be true: hut what
are we offering in exchange for this
money? Are we not Offering up the
precious souls OF our noble young men.
and are we not taking the daily bread
from the mouths of thousand of Door
children and breaking the hearts OF
| many a poor mother? Men ,leprivinG
their children OF the common school cd
ucation all for the sake OF that vile pois-
on. | tell You, gentlemen. it is time we
threw off this delusion and wake up to
the realization OF our condition. Do you
not know that the best interests of So
ciety are at stake? Must we sacrifice
all that is good and noble to satisfy
the rumscllcr? God forbid that We in
this enlightened country should come to
this.
They say VIC under tho prohibitory law
can't stop the sale of liquor. My answer
to this. gentlemen, is that if YOU cam
| stop a man from stealing horses is it
necessary 10 make horse stealing legal
I agree with you. gentlemen, that tho
sale of intoxicating liquor has not been
successfully prohibited under our pro-
fault of the law? Have the officers at
all times and under all circumstances en-
forced the law? Have the people in the
communities where liquor has been sold
tried to help the officers enforce the law?
Gentlemen, you know they have not, and
] tell you. gentlemen, if there was one
man in town where liquor is sold that
would help the officers enforce the lay
where there are II to help the man who
violates law. tho conditions would be far
different than they are today Gentle
mon. We have got all the law that is
needed to stop are sale of intoxicating
liquors in this state. All We want is
honest officers and honest people.
Our opponents tell us if VIC don't re-
submit this question to the people that
We will go down in defeat in two years
frorl now. Gentlemen, 7 stand for prin-
ciplc. and if we must go down by not
granting the rumscllcrs the privilege of
selling that most of all rtinouS poison
let us go down in defence Of the right
with our flag at the topnaSt: for | had
rather die fighting for thu right than to