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

judgment until the determination of
the House could be had. / believe that
that law has elements along very much
the same lines as this same SturgiS
law, anG / object to having in my
county the so-called 5;tursis deputies
coming in there from the outside, and
/ would object to the Governor coming
there and taking out our sheriff and
putting another man IN his place with
out my having Il word to say about it.
NpI'lause).
Now, upon this matter of the pro-
posed suggestion, | think you will find
on examining it that there are actually
some teeth and quite q good many
strong teeth. and which will overcome
many of the objections to the other
propositions. 1t is a good deal, gentle
men, in the manner along which mod
crn thinkers have pcen acting OF late.
and along the lines that we adopted
in this state when we changed the
Constitution and carried the refercn-
dunn and initiative legislation; it is
pretty much along those lines because
it is III a sense and in a degree q re
CALI as they term it, as political ecOno-
mists call it, in some states where they
have mapped out Il whole new system
Of laws which we cannot do here and
ought not to try, and where they had
all the experience of ages and the
best thought of the world to take into
consideration they have adopted the
initiative and referendum and the re-
call, which means of course, as you
know. that when an officer is elected
,.x;l OF.
on him, and if he doesn't do a good
Job they pull him back and yank him
out of The chair and put another man
in his place. Now. this is very much
along those lines as YOU will see. 1t is
simply that in case of the delinquency
of the sheriff and persistent failure to
perform the duties of his office. the
Governor may take notice of it and
may call q special election in that
county and put. it up to the people.
and they have the right to pull him
back and put another in his place.
This does not can for the petition of
any particular number of people. !
don't think that is necessary. If Il
man in the office of sheriff persistent
~ violates his duty, everybody knows
it: if a thousand voters send letter
to the Governor notifying him OF that
fact he would not know it any better
than he did before. Then ] think haV-
ing that hanging over the sheriff and
he knowing that his term of office
might and probably would cease upon
his failure to perform the duties OF
his office. would be just as effective
and would be just as efficient cluo
as if his successor was going to he
Amounted by the Governor. What
does the retiring sheriff care about
who appoints his successor if he is
going out of office, and if his term IF
office NAV cease? That is all that in
terests him. Consequently, ! say. 1t
is as eficacious as the other measuT"
in holding the sheriff down; and |
don't believe it will he used once in
| % wears. believe if we have this on
| the books. the very fact that it is on
the books will cause the shcrifs 70
| look up and take notice and to per
form their duties vigilantly.
Now. in regard to the other end Of
| if the election and substitution OF an
other officer | think is important.
| think it is Democratic and | think 1t
| is in accordance with our ancient
principles of government. and pc
lieve in it: and / suggest to you
| whether or not it is n Wise way to get
| n condition established so that when
| we elect n sheriff and he is sworn in
| and gives his bond he cannot sit down
and saw Il have this office for tW"
wears and nothing can disturb me. and
| if I want to run this thing to suit my
self I can do it." That condition
J think ought to be abrogated. and if
/ the people know that they can with the
aid of the Governor also elected by
them upon the proper occasion termi-
| nate the office of the sheriff they are
perfectly satisfied. OF course it may
be argued and it may be suggested
.Why not repeal your Sturgis law that
YOU don't think very much of. and not
nut in something else?' Now. this
Sturgis law has been in operation in
this State for four years. There is a