The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-04-02
The Sturgis Law Under Discussion


One Of the most interesting and
enthusiastic meeting If the season
WAS that Of the Brotherhood III
St. Paul held in the vebtry II
the Centenary Methodist Episcopal
church on Monday evening. Inc
chairman Mr.. Il. A. Dlusmore
handled the opening exercises and
routine business with pfompfue--
and announced the debate ~ tHe
evening, s'ResolYed that tine stargi-
law is in the interest Of prohibition
and temperance. Affirmative Dr
Leitch and II. 4. Dinsmore. ne
negative Mr. David Lewis and Samuel
Emerson. After the debate the sub
jet was thrown open TO the floor and
80 animated were the speakers that
the chair had to call time on the
orators in order to give opportunity
10 all 70 participate. Three OF the
Sturgis Deputies were present BY
invitation and enjoYed the debate
DR.. Leiteh introduced the subject
and spoke as substitute for one OF
the absent debaters, saying IN sub
stance that the Sturgis law was
species Of legislation created to
counteract abnormal conditions: con
ditions that might be termed patho-
logical or diseased. \ disease that
had fastened Itself upon me body
polite as gangrene and smallpox
fasten themselves upon M body
physical The abnormal condition Of
official criminality and official con
spiracy to overthrow the integrity Of
statutary law based upon the funda
mental principles of righteousness
and justice were so apparent and 50
rampant as to cause even the politi-
cal leaders to fear for the com plete
overthrow of the Republican party,
by the moral sense of an outraged
public. The Republican leaders took
alarm and called halt and sought 10
stop the mad pace of official lawiess-
ness. The Bangor Convention and
also the Portland Convention insert
a political blank protesting against
notifications on the part If its
Sheriffs and Attorneys and also re
affirming IA belief in the principles of
prohibition. At the next Legisla
ture the Sturgis law was enacted TO
counteract notification and also to
cut the leprous plague spot out OF the
body polite as the disease manifests
itself. Now if the expense and pain
have been costly and severe the
fault lies with the diseased members
of the body polite and not with the
commission and their remedy.
ID. \. Lewis was the first speaker
on the negative side and affirmed his
conviction in the principles of the
prohibitory law and its strict and
impartial enforcement, and that by
honest high minded, patriotic citi-
zens. In the first place the Sturgis
law was enacted to make the pro-
hibitory law obnoxious, but it has
not done it and never will do it.
The prohibitory law is good law
and if the Governor of the State
needed weapon TO counteract the
evil disease of notification and at
the same time TO maintain the
of his party he should have
the power to remove any officer and
this power should be made constitu-
tional if necessary. The cost of the
commission was referred to as being
i'll excess of the good done The
total cost fer the year was Sal, 1s5
and the net cost of the commission
was SIS, 7i4. This money said the
speaker, should be spent in education
and that on our back plantations
where it is most needed. Education
is one of the great moral forces OF
the State ana makes for its perma-
nance and success.
Mr.. II. a. Dinsmore said that while
the Sturgis law and Commission was
costly one, Yet it had more than
paid for itself. Where are some of
the notorious rumsellers Of our
County? Why are some of these men
behind the bars-iron bars, and why
are some others finding other terri
tory more healthful at present?
Where is our patriotic conscientious
County Attorney? " hat materially
helped bring about these conditions?
The Sturgis Commission. Then what
scared Sheriff Pencil of Portland who
created a law of his own and became
Governor and Legislature Judicial
Court and Jury of Cumberland Coun-
ty? When the Sturgis law was en-
acted this piece of secession territory
and its administrator went out of
commission and got down TO business.
The Commission has more than paid
for itself in that County. No officer
has right to violate his oath of
Office and to defy the law that makes
and lifts him into office. This is
species of secession and rebellion that
the American people viii never
tolerate. The Sturgis law is our only
remedy for dealing with this special
anarchy at present.
Mr.. 5. +. Emerson said no one here
is more in favor of the strict and i'm
partial enforcement of the prohibi-
tory law than am. The enforcement
OF this law should however hesOrought
about and maintained by the people
and that in just and consistent way
Citizens should be elected that are
conscientious and patriotic and puo-
lie spirited enough to serve tirif
State and Nation to the best OF their
ability and from principle and not
plumber. The odium OF lawlessness
not only rests upon the elected but
also upon the elector. To create