Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-14

| SUh!nI"*Ion, would be able to make
clear, b.. editorial or otherwise why |
am sound on this question. Unfortu-
/ lIatcly L have no newspaper and must,
| ;& here tCForc, make myself understood
| 10y word "f mouth
| Can nrnhibiti"nist be Il rcsubmis-
! siprist" This is the question and the
! great stumbling block. | answer. YES
and assert mat there are many thou
! sand. Of Republicans in Maine of the
| same mind, whose voices We're heard
| on every hand. during the last cam
| r;iiSn, demanding q chance to vote
| one" more on this great moral question
| IL order that thcy may show to the
world that Maine still stands by the
| rinciplcs of prohibition; and their
Si'i"VallC" is, today, that their party
Will not accept the challenge Of the
Democracy ana go 70 the people with
! this question. Prohibition, or license
| with icral option, is the question. and
| r,submissi1n, The Sturgis Law, agency
! system. etc, are but means to an end
| simply methods by which the princi-
! pies are carried into effect.
III" Democratic party through -, its
press, Very indignantly denies that it is
! backed by the Rum Trust because il
| advocates resubmission vet. let a Re-
publican accept their challenges and
| say. "Ycs. we will submit this question
| t" the people" and Mrs. Democracy i'm
mrdiat~ly cries RUM Rum, Rum,
| No hing but rum. Not even Il chas
| err" ana she asks the aid of MI
! Fr"nk W. Gowan. to beat back such a
i bad Republican. lest. forsooth. she be
! ovcrt2kcn, discovered. and dcvoured;
! for in such Il program the Democratic
| party sees nothing but trouble and de-
| feat. 1t has even been suggested that.
should the Republican members of the
| present LEGISLATURE decide to join with
| tho Democrats ard vote for the rcsub-
mission Of this question to the people,
| the Democratic members would leave
their seats to prevent the necessary
| tWo-thirds vote being carried.
The trouble with this question is,
! that certain withdrawing and honest
| Republicans cannot diffcrrntiate be-
| tween the man who desires resubms-
| sicn t!.at The prol.ibitory law may be
| rc2 tii:'mvd and strengthened. and the
| man who desires rtSubmi%SfOn that the
| law may be repealed ana destroyed.
| Rather than I"2k" this distinction they
| arc willing to he accused Of keeping
| this much mnot"d question from tho
| people. and to leave it to the DrmOcatS
| to write and talk about. 1t il with this
| class Of Republicans that the Demo-
| Gratis prefer to wage their political war
| fare. on the prciudiceS and lack of
courage in this class the Democratic
party has been fattcning in this State
| fan h. Of t,yn nd no ~. N
continue these tactics and preserve the
| same conditions through another cleo
ton. they expect, through the tcmcrity
| of such Republicans. to meet the people
| of this state SqIarcly and fairly and
| fully on this question, to gain full and
| complete possession of the State
House. When this is accomplished
they will have no further trouble with
the rum question. The Democratic
! machine can then satisfy its followers
10y rcTitting fines and penalties. or
even by the repeal of statutes. ShcriffS
ANA other executive officers in cities
and even in towns, can t!,n follow tn"
| LEGAL public opinion. auG. with TIM
right kind of Il governor, Il conStitu-
tional amendment providing for the re
mpVal of such officers will have no
terror for til" popular nullificr of tho
| law. The Democratic party has been
struggling against poor policies and
bad luck for many years in the State OF
Maine, and all these years they have
been openly and avowcdly for license
against prohibition. During these
years the Republican party has en-
joyed the confidence of the people, al
ways declaring for prohibition.
Governor Cobb, is his last annua
message, fully recognized the present
situation when h" said: Every
thoughtful ana fair minded mar
| student of political conditions in Main,
must admit that there is a very strong
sentiment in favor of the proposition
of giving to the voters an opportunity
to express at the polls their opinion or
the present prohibitory law. Whilo
this may not be that Of majority
now. it surely is held by very larat
minority Of our citizens, and the re-
| suits of the September election last
Year seems To- furnish a complete justi-
| ficaton Of this conclusion | see the
same condition as does Governor Cobb;
hence, | say that l am for resubmissior
| since the last election. Why? Be-
cause 50 many of the people of Maine
demand it: because the people rule;
and because of the further belief that
if the people can be allowed to vote or
| this question, they will settle it and, al
the same time. settle the Democratic
party in Maine. and the matter of the
| licensed or local option saloon. Thai
may not be misunderstood in my u.s.
| of the word settle" | mean end. breal
up. and terminate the prospects of {
license law in Maine.
Governor Cobb. in his late message
makes clear.-"That the belief in the
| prohibitOry' law is not confined to tht
! adherents of either of the two grea
political parties. and that the desire fol
resubmissiOn is not confined to th'
enemies of that law" If the Portland
Express could be made to understand
this. with its great power in tn
advocacy "f Il cause. what :; work il