Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-19
NO ONE ASKSF0R ABSOLUTE
REPEAL OF STURC|S LAW.
Author Of Measure Defends 1t Before Judiciary
Committee Report Ought to Pass Upon Bill
Excluding Automobiles from MI. Desert Island.

! have been sent to counties where they
| We're not sent"
| Mr.. Da.vics-"Do YOU know anything
| about the conditions at RumforG
Falls"
Mr. Sturgis--"Not very much, but |
do know this-that when saloonmen
are told to close at II O'Clock at night
| would say that the officials were not
trying to enforce the law"
Mr. Davies-"You refer to Cumber-
land county?'
MIR. Sturgis---"Yes, and other counties,
notably Fenobscot. where l worked
for two summers.
Il honestly think" said Mr.. Stursis,
ir closing. that the Sturgis law has
done more FOR enforcement throughout
the state than anything else and that
tile enforcement has been better than
at any time since the early sos"
Rev. Wilbur F. Berry, president of
the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at
kcnt's Hill and former secretary o.
the Christian civic League OF Maine,
was the next speaker.
"rhe Stursis law said Mr. Berry,
sis q tried and efficient measure. /
haven't any faith in Il law giving the
Governor the right to remove a Sher-
if. This act says the Governor may
IT does not say that the Govtrnor
must Who is to gather the ovdence?
| do not believe for Il minute that the
people will accept the Eaton amend
ment. think that now that the best
weapon that We ever had to get after
the Iiqdor traffic should stay and that
it is unfair to the temperance people
that it should be repealed.
MI Hersey-'Wil YOU, Mr.. Berry
with the temperance organizations
which you represent, oppose the Eaton
amendment"
Mr. Bcrry-"I personally will do all
n my power to defeat the measure.
1t $ Il pur" farce
Mrs. Lillian NJ. n. Stevens of Port
land. the president Of the National
Womcn's Christian Temperance Union,
was the last speaker and she strongly
advocated the retention OF the Stur-
gis law.
known as the Womcn's Christian
Union" said Mrs. stevens Its basic
principles are total abstinence and
prohibition We believe in prohibiting
the sale Of that which causes 80 per
cent. of insanity. As per cent, of idiocy,
so per cent of poverty and 80 per cent.
of crime.
eprcsenting the temperance wo
men of Maine. I plead that the Sturgls
law NAV not be Weakened" continued
Mrs. Stevens, land that it may be re-
tanned and strengthened. Even as it is
it is not a weak law In my county of
Cumberland. prior to the enactment
of the SturgiS law. Sheriff Pennell haf
permitted violation of law by certain
people who were protected if they OBJ
served his plan, but the very day that
the Governor signed the SturgiS law
change Of plan came to the sheriff
and his cohorts. He didn't care to have
the Stursis commission come to his
county.
econ Jan. / | read with deep interest
tx. report Of the Sturgis commission
for the past two years. showing that
they had visited seven counties. The
cost Of the commission has been otter
criticized 1t appeares that the OK
penses were about $4,000 annually or
about 81 cents per capita. am sure
that there is not ar intelligent mother
anywhere in Maine who would not
gladly pay that tax many times over
for herself and children if thereby the
home would be better protected from
the homes greatest curse"
Mrs. Stevens further said that she
did not favor the Eaton amendment
and that she would do all in her pow
or to retain the Sturgis law. She
thought. however. that the counties
should pay the expenses of the depu-
t. enforcement commissioners when
they are at work in those counties.
in spite of its decisive defeat ip the
Senate there are indications that the
bill to create a State board of chart