Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-12
REPUBLICAN RALLY AT
CHELSEA, THURSDAY.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

kIldl 8OOu1 Cdu YOU ClllIClZc Tic Ulotltc
or the results limited though they are?
That is really the only question at is
sue regarding the Sturgis Law in this
campaign.
I realize that the Sturgis Commits
sion is not popular as a means ot en-
forcing the prohibitory law Of this
State. 1t is obnoxious to the Demo-
cratic party as a whole; it is unpop-
ular with many Republicans because
they claim it tends to thwar1 local
self-government. Notwithstanding this
uppopularity. it agrees with the ex-
pressed wish, at least, Of these men and
that is that there should not be any
notification Of the prohibitory law at
the will of any sheriff or officer whose
duty it is to enforce the law. But, how
IL this to be avoided. The Democrats
say by compelling the sheriffs to do
their duty. Experience shows that this
cannot be accomplished and common
sense warns us that Impeachment Of
sheriff who fails to do his duty would
be an impossibility. These sherirfs are,
however "a part of the executive gov
eminent of the State. and the Governor
alone is the one who receives the
III lOI lItlI OlICldl WOLh
in this particular matter Then in all
justice why shouldn't he have the
power Of removing any one of THESE
sheriffs who fails to do his duty? If it
Is not done for partisan purposes, If
the Governor substitutes for Il sheriff
who will not enforce the law, a man
from the same political party who will
perform his duties and keep his
oath Of Office, there can be no
Just argument against such course
and II such law is passed
1t does away with the necessity of the
Sturgis law. This is exactly what
the Republican party proposes to do
during the next Legislature. if they
have the power Under such a con-
dition Of affairs in this State. the
Governor alone will be responsible for
the act OF his subordinates If he is
elected by those who believe in pro-
hibition, he will see that the law Is
enforced by the sheriffs whether they
are Republicans or Democrats. Such
law was proposed in the last Legis-
lature and defeated by the Democratic
influence. And still they criticise us
because we do not enforce the law ana
cry out against honest efforts to en-
force It, Is this course one to COM
mend itself to you as law abiding
citizens? If not. then certainly you
cannot turn to that party whose stock
In trade consists of the misrepresenta-
tons 1t can make of a record of Re-
publican administration so honorable.
so progressive. so honest that a speci-
fic charge has not yet been MADE
re- no nnrt-
more, you will not turn to that party
whose alliances are. made with multi
fiers OF law, and whose critics seek
to throw every possible stumbling
block in the way of honest enforce
ment of any temperance law, by acts
as well as by appeal to prejudices.
Two years ago combination or
circumstances placed the executive Of
fee of sheriff in this county in the
hands Of Democrats and elected to the
office of county attorney. Mr.. Beane
of Hallowell One of the important
factors In securing their election was
the circulation throughout kennebec
county of little pasteboard cards winch
pretended to summarize the expenses
Of Kennebec county They We're in
tended to give the inference to the
citizens of good old kennebec county
that the funds of this county had bee'4
improperly handled. In word. that
the acknowledgement of it's affairs had
been so great that the county OF kei.-
nebec was bankrupt and unable to
meet its running expenses. or borrow
capital to meet them. While every
one who was acquainted with our
county commissioners or with the al
fairs Of the county knew that the IN
ferences which these pasteboard cards
intended for the people to draw were
wickedly unfair and groundless. yet
coming at the end of heated cam
paign. it was impossible to get before
the people the truth and refute. even
the insinuations. More than TINS. you
know that lies travel faster than
truths. and when once started on their
race in political fight. 1t is hope
less task to try and overtake them.
We all felt that the insinuations
were groundless and so did the Demo
cratic politicians who elaborated the
fictions that were printed on those
cards,
Jatar when we were anxious to
hui,d the annex to our Court House,
the county delegation In the Leglsla-
ture met with the county officials ana
other property owners of kenneoee
county at the Court House to talk
over the wisdom OF expanding S'5'ooo
in these changes. Our sheriff urged
the expenditure (Which | believe was
wise and necessary in his usual
earnest and flowery manner and so
did Brother Beane, who appreciated
Mt least the necessity and wisdom or
the Republicans making this increase
in the expenditures of our county.
Rut. when one of these gentlemen at
that hearing urged the expenditure
he was jokingly asked how 1t could De
done. II, according to the campaign
talk of our Democratic friends. Ken
nebec county was bankrupt and I'M
able to meet its bills. He then IN the
presence of the committee and IN the
presence of mmbers of the supreme
bench said, "Oh. that was poiltica'
campaign talk, made for campaign
purposes." In other words. TINS gen
tleman practically admitted that thelr
campaign literature OF two years ago
was a fraud upon the public. created
for the purpose of deceivins the pubic
holding office at