The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-01-02


powers, in such cases, under the di-
rection of the governor and council,
as are ordinarily possessed by the
regular county attorney.
1t seems that the Governor first
wrote to Mr.. Young about fifteen
days since, an unofficial oommunica-
ton, asking him to come to Augusta
for conference on the matter. Mr..
Young did not go, assigning as a
reason that he was too busy prepar-
ing for the December term of court.
Then followed the official notice re-
quiring Mr.. Young's presence at Au-
gusta on December 81. The Govern
or's letter, as reason for the citation,
quotes as follows from q communica-
ton to him by the Sturgis Commits
sion:
ITO his excellency, the Gov
ernor of the state of Maine:
1.-THE undersigned enforcement
commission believe that in their
luokAhOhp OhOlO 40 hCuo Va WIG dR
pointment in Somerset County of
special attorney for the state in
such county in accordance with
the provisions of Section s of
Chapter 80 of the public laws of
1905. They therefore request you
to make such appointment in ac-
cordance with the provisions of
said section 8.
Waldo Pettengill,
H. w. Cakes,
Alfred II. Lang"
In the letter in which the above APP
pears as a quotation, the governor
says:
"Under ordinary circumstances
seven days would be deemed suf-
ficient notice for such hearing and
! hope you may be able to be
present at the council chambers
at the state house, Augusta, Tues
day, Dec. 81 at 2 p. m. l am
aware that the court is in session
In Somerset county and 1t may be
that it would not be convenient
for you or compatible with your
duties as attorney for the county
to leave the county to be present."
The Governor further says that he
trusts Mr.. Young may be able to
co ne not later than Saturday, Jan
uary 4th.
Mr.. Young did not go to Augusta
on the 31st as requested and it seems
that, up to yesterday morning, he
had returned no answer to the eta
tion. He is reported to have stated
that his attention was required here
with court matters pertaining to the
duties of his Office and that it was
impossible for him to comply with
the summons. So far rs the date
mentioned in the citation is concern
ed-December 31st-the reasons rs
signed would seem to be sufficient, as
the grand jury was in session and
it may be well understood that the
county attorney could not be absent
on that date.
Those who have followed the course
of enforcement in this county will re =
call that, at the last September term
of the Somerset s. j. court, out OF
about 81 cases, practically all for
violations of the liquor law, and
many against old offenders, some
thing like 43 were continued and four
were mol pressed. The records OF
previous terms during Mr.. Young's
incumbency show somewhat similar
result. Moreover, the history of L.
quor cases appealed from the courts
of this county to the Supreme Court
would seem to Justify the assertion OF
the Sturgis Commissioners that Mr..
Young pays little or no attention to
them, with the result that they are
invariably dismissed 1t may be that
these conditions are basis for the
feeling on the part of the Enforcement
Commissioners and the Governor that
a special attorney is needed in this
county.
Mr.. Young proposes to resist the
appointment of a special officer to
supercede him and quotes as his Legal
advisors, s. j. Walton, E. F. Danforth
and Geo. w. Cover, Skowhegan at
torneys, and Judge Augustine Sim
mons of No. Arson. These gentle
men, all prominent in somer set
county political matters, evidently
have not lost faith in Mr.. Young, and
their action In the present instance
is to be expected, as among them may
be found those who were his sponsors
before the Republican county con-
vention of 1905, when Mr.. Young re-
ceived a nomination for a second
term.
AS the Governor must consider that
he has given the "due notice" con
templated by the law, 1t would not be
strange II the appointment of spe-
cial attorney for this county to su-
percede Mr.. Young should be an
nounced at any hour and the issue
thus sharply made. 1t Is reported
that Mr.. Young, acting upon the nd :
vice of the gentlemen above named,
proposes to contest the matter upon
the grounds that the Sturgis lawlis
unconstitutional Should he do this,
the final decision will not, Of course
be reached for some months.
1t must be apparent to all that nc
real enforcement of the prohibitory
law can be secured, in this or any
other county, unless there is proper
amount of cooperation between the
county attorney and the enforcement
officers.