Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-07

| known as the SturgiS law
| If the Democrats meant anything III
their declaration. they meant that the
| state should have and exert Use the
| power to secure the enforcement Oh us
laws Thy had demanded the honest
and ;mnartial enforcement of all law,
| including the prohbitory law since
then they have said. eve reiterate our
demand for the enforcement of all law,
| including the prohibit"ry law tthd
again I've condemn the nullification
of tn" rrohibitory law
| WHY demand its enforcement anna
| refuse to provide the machinery to Sc
| cure it, Why "reiterate' the demand
and condemn the machinery? why
| "ccndemn the notification and repeal
| the machinery without a SUBSTITUTE
If there was no call for it, it was IDLE
mockery to mention it. platform is
| made as statement of principles TO
| guide the voter If it Incorporates
| principles not called for or not meant,
| it is deception that should condemn
its authors.
They Joined with us in recognizing
the necessity and promising the
| remedy. BY words they endorsed the
| principle They offered nothing as
substitute for the remedy we proposed
It's particular form and provisions
may suit you or they may not
They say and we believe that a
law enacted should be a law enforced
Those who do not accept TINS pflnc1-
pie we expect to vote with them. TO
such we have nothing to offer To
those, however. who do believe as they
profess to believe. that all laws should
be enforced, we ask how you expect
to secure it through a leadership that
declares the need of a remedy and. re-
fusing to offer one. reserves the right
to criticize the only one offered-and
offered in pursuance of their promise
as wei as ours.
We recognize. as well as our oppo-
nents. that it would be better that the
laws be executed by the local officials
elected for that purpose. And to that
end the Republican party recommends
that power be given the State govern
ment to remove local officials who DO
not do their duty. and to appoint hon
est men in their places. And even
this does not please the Democratic
candidates for office
Mr. McGillicuddy. standing on a
. platform that condemns the nullifioa-
| y
"the condition in the city of Lewis
ton as far as the sale of liquors is
concerned" under a Democratic sher-
iff a Democratic county attorney. d
, Democratic mayor. and % Democratic
police offices, were never so bad as
they are today" and vet he declares
it would be "un- Republican and I'M
American to permit the Governor to
remove such officials Do you think
I so? What if the proposed constitu-
tional amendment is Worded so broad
' as to make possible the removal of
other officers than the sheriff? | don't
> know what the real intent was or
= how broadly the real proposition might
: be worded but why should not any
4 corrupt or Inefficient official give place
for an honest man? 1t is idle talk to
= , undertake to create scare by telling
= you that the Governor would have
power to remove your selectmen. No
Governor would undertake it unless
there We're cause. and if cause exists.
: no honest man will complain. They
simply try to raise a false alarm in
| order to escape the consequences OF
: their own official conduct that calls
e for such CONCENTRATIONS as Mr.. Nc
5 Gilicuddy unfortunately gave them.
But conditions are not the worst
c they ever were in that municipality
Q They are not so bad as they We're
h shortly after the Sturgis law went
n into effect in 1905. The same influ-
q ences were in control there then. II
X is not matter susceptible of proof
q and | don't undertake to say how far
n it was justified. but it was currently
: reported and believed that persons
S were violating this same liquor law
e with impunity so long as they deposit
: ed eight dollars week with certain
Democratic alderman | don't know
: whether it is true or not, but no Off
= cal. or set of officials. has a right tc
d so conduct himselft that such a rumol
: can gain currency. 1t destroys public
= confidence and breeds discomfort. The
great body of our citizens Republican
$ or Democratic. don't want it possible
!, for such things to be believed But
h we had the same Democratic deputy
sheriffs then that we have now. Still
II no one thinks OF such a condition OF
V affairs now When the Sturgis depu-
S ties came there they found dray loads
Il of liquors under the tenement occupied
n by one of the liquor deputies. They
t don't find it now 1t is true. as Mr.
J. sell in their homes in the presence 81
= their wives and children. But | sub
4 nit that man who will convert his
q dinner table into a bar with his chil-
dren as witnesses of his depravity
t under one law. will do it under an
other.
: They do not sell rum because they
c have to. 1t is because they prefer to
: And this is simply another false alarm
: to prejudice the public.
n They say that the Sturgis Commits
t sion has not moved rapidly enough
y that they are not in some cities
= when they should be It may be that
7, you or | would have gone into one To-
y cality or another more promptly thar
" they They have recognized and Just
n ~. the deSirability of every MUM
y cipality's enforcing the law itself, il II
would. and have exerted every posi-
n Bile influence to secure this result
X Whether they have waited too Ions
l is a matter of Judgment which he.