Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-19
A Comm unieaEei,
Editors Kennebec Journal:

your paper to call the attention OF your
many Republican readers to some
conditions confronting us politically
We are entering upon an important
state and national campaign with is
sues of the greatest Importance. af-
fecting the moral and business condi-
lions of the state and country and it
is OF the greatest Importance that
these conditions and principles be dis
cussed that action may be taken in All
intelligent and enlightened manner and
a correct solution be reached.
The paramount state issue will be
the method of controlling the liquor
traffic in the state. The chief question
now agitatng the public mind is what
snail be done. if anything, in refer
ence to our liquor laws. There are
some Republicans who are firm sup
porters of the party and it's principles
who believe a vote upon the question
of prohibition would result in it's re-
affirmation and be more faithfully en-
forced Others take directly the Oppo-
site view.
Two candidates for the nomination
of Governor present themselves for the
consideration of the Republican voters.
One of the candidates suggests the
plabiscite as a means of reaching n
vote on the question, the other, result
mission; neither of them, however, at
the present time seems to be pushing
either of those schemes to the front
If conditions six months ago seemed
to warrant the consideration of either
proposition by the Republican party.
it seems to me very apparent that
those conditions have passed. The de-
velopments in other parts of. the coun-
try are confirming the policy pursued
by the Republican party for the past
twenty years as being the best for
controlling the liquor traffic. Why not
drop the consideration of how we may
change the law or reaffirm it and
stand by the principles which we have
advocated as party for so many
years and which are now being adopt
ed by the people all over the country?
The Democratic party desires to
down prohibition. Their leaders advo-
cate local option or high license. AS
a party in this State they have never
Endorsed prohibition, and today we
have condition in Kennebec county
which confirms that fact. The present
Sheriff is also mayor of the capital
city and conditions there, if my infor-
nation is correct, are not ideal. The
Republican party has suffered because
some officials have been false to their
PARTY principle and have been multi
fiers of law. The existing conditions
i'll this county at the present time are
due 10 that fact. Let us drive out
those faithless officials and nominate
men who will be true and loyal to
their party and above all things faith
full in the enforcement of law.
The Republican party has good
record in its attitude towards the pro-
hibtOry law. Its officials have hon.
Ored the state in their administration
of this law, and none more than our
present Governor. Both of the candi-
dates who seek theE domination for
Governor are avowed friends of the
prohibitory law. 1 can speak with per-
sonal knowledge of the candidate from
this city and if he should be selected
as the standard bearer for this year,
we should have a friend of the law In
him.
1t would be a step backward for the
people of Maine now after so long
trial of prohibition with such benifi-
cent results, to allow this law to be
changed. Almost all other methods of
control of the liquor traffic have been
tried by the people of the different
states and the sentiment throughout
tho country is growing towards the
adoption of the principle of prohibi-
ton which we have so long enjoyed
and which the Republican party has
been instrumental in keeping upon our
statute books.
Let US make the issue on the main
question between prohibition and Il
change of the law to local option or
high license, which the Democratic
party have so long advocated. We
shall then have the principles of the
referendum applied to this law and
there will be no need of an attempt to
substitute any other. We can then
present q united front towards the
common enemy and sustain. the Re-
publican policies in the state and ma
ton which the Republican national adj
is so faithfully putting in
force at the present time.
Horace Purinton.
Waterville Me, March II, 1908