Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-19

ana empowered to call a special cleo
ton in any county where the sheriff
Is derelict in his duty, and the people
of the county fill the office. 1t is fur
Their proposed-and if am allowed to
propose this amendment I shall at the
proper time propose an amendment
ment making the repeal of the Sturgis
law conditional upon the passage of
this resolution adopted by the people
rather than upon the previous one.
Now, I desire briefly with your per-
mission, gentlemen, to state my att-
tude upon this proposition, and in
general and somewhat rough way to
explain why l think it ought to have
passage. I believe we are in accord
in a great many things. 1 believe we
are all practically agreed that the pro-
hibition law. so long as it remains q
law on the statute books of this state.
ought to be enforced; and never have
heard of any political party or any
group of persons. no matter how d-
vded, or others, to make any an
nouncement or take any public position
other than that contrary to that sug-
gestion. / believe we are all practically
unanimous in the idea that so long as
the law remains on the statute books
it ought to be enforced There used to
be q falling off-there previously was
to some extent falling off of that
idea. In some localities years ago that
idea did not prevail SO strong. but the
prevailing and the best idea and opin-
ion, as l believe now is in favor of the
strict enforcement of the laN. believe
without regard to political parties we
may rest upon that as common
ground. 1 believe that this matter is
simply a matter of how best we can
got at the enforcement of this law. l
take it that we can best do our duty
which We SWore to perform when we
arrived here if when we leave to go
home we leave behind us on the books
here such laws in relation to the en-
forcement of this liquor law as are rea-
sonable in our judgment and wise and
effective. think we may all safely
say that it is proper for us to get to-
gether and see if We can't agree on
that course of action because I think
it is desired by us.
OF course this is not question of
resubmissiOn on one side and prohibit
ton or high license or no license-it is
L
only my point of view as 7 look at it
it is simply question of the most eX-
peGient and ef!icacious method of en-
forcing this law and making the stat
utes to carry it out. The so-called Stur-
gis law, which is one method Of en-
forcing the liquor law, we have now
had for four years. When that law was
first proposed of course it was an en-
tire experiment: nobody knew just how
II would work. We are in better con-
diton today to tell how much law of
that kind is worth. A great many pen-
Pile. and n great many Democrats. and
a great many Republicans-and ! am
one of them-believe that that is an
unwisc piece Of legislation. A great
many believe that it is un-Amerlcan
and un-Democratic. and not in accord
ance with our ancient principles of
government and in operation eXpen-
siva I think that idea appeals to the
minds of q great many people, ana !
notice when people have the contrary
idea. that it is good law ana a Wise
piece of legislation. it is nine times out
of 10 a man who comes from county
where. the Sturgis law was never set
in operation.
Now, without going very much IN
to a discussion Of this matter of the
Sturgis law, | want to say that 1 ti1uk
the hostility to that law is based upon
a reasonable and proper ground. l
have observed that wherever that law
was set in operation it was almost UNI
vcrsally the cause of dlScord ana dls-
satisfaction, and in some cases riot
and bloodshed 1t is not mere CO.
incidence that that usually happens
when that law is set in operation. The
law of chances forbids that: ana L
think it is explained by the fact that
the people of any locality have an IN
hcrent and an inherited objection 10
foreign society, people outside OF thelr
locality coming in and enforcing or at
teunting to enforce their laws, and
exercising police powers OF tnat KIM
over their people. Now, you Will see
and remember that no matter no"
much a,,lor our own sheriffs that we
elect and our own deputies give to
the enforcement of the law, there IS
no trouble; there is no rlot ouf OWL
IDENTITIES in my locality may KNOCK
down and go through every door III
the town and search every dwelling
house. and there is no riot ana no
trouble. There is feeling Oh sdtis-
faction among the people, you VIII
find. I feel the same way When t!ie
officers show vigilance and activity m
that way, and there is feeling OF
satisfaction that the officers VINO we
Thought were proper men to 90 inns
work and voted for are Vlgllant III the
performance of their duties; but "heh
the other officers outside come III.
then that whole attitude OF the loS"l
nouulation changes. Now, that re-
gard as one of the principal reasons
WHY this law is so unpopular ana
when i law is unpopular like that IL
cannot be eGicacious; and that pc
,ieve is a reason and good reason
why it is desirable to get rid OF IL.
There are also other CONSIDERATIONS
There are people who think TINS Is Wis
legislation no doubt, but am arsuHi :.
from NV standpoint. and i heil'Ne ~
is unwise. Now. if it is true-ahu we
are pretty well agreed that 'ha' Jaw
is unwise, and if we want 10 get ilu
of # and get something else IN p'ace