The independent-reporter., 1910-12-29


from January until September, the
way they are talking. | rather think
the people will like it and keep on
both the prohibitory law and the DEM
ocratic party
"RESUBMISSION IS BUT AN IN
GENIOUS DIvICE ON THE PART OF
THE LIQUOR ELEMENT.n-REv.
ROBERT NORRIS.
I believe in prohibition and in it's
enforcement. l believe, too, that 1t is
what the vast majority of the people
of Maine want. Were 1t not so pro-
hibition would never have withstood
the fierce attacks of the opposing
forces during the past decade. Re-
submission Is but an ingenious device
on the part of the liquor element to
get at prohibition and If possible put
1t to death. And so cleverly and Wig
orously has this issue been presented
to the public that many Of our most
conscientious citizens are willing to
let 1t go to the people. not that they
would weaken prohibition but that
such course would stop this great
noise and public squabbling." But why
that prohibition Is the best thing for
Maine and Is what the people, taking
them as whole, want? Resubmis-
sion might stop this great noise for a
time, but in the long run how much
better off are we? Why go to such
waste of money, time and energy for
something that will give us no furth-
er satisfaction than beat away few
clouds. 1t is. as one good Maine
farmer once said, just like letting a
pig out of a bag for the sole purpose
of catching him again. A representa-
tive should consider this measure
carefully. He should hold it up be-
fore the light and examine 1t from
every point 1t Is quite natural for
us to expect him to represent his
party, but party Is getting to be a
shallow word, 1t has already lost its
glory. What the people want is clean
politics, and the man who will go to
our legislature and stand for such need
not lean altogether upon party sup
port He will have the good will and
hearty cooperation of every good man
whether in name he be Democrat, Re-
publican, Prohibitionist or Socialist.
ROBERT MORRIS.
"I AM NOT AFRAID OF RESUB-
MISSION."-REV. GEORGE MERRI-
AM.
Editor of the Independent-Repor
My Dear Sir:
You have asked me to answer the
question, Should legislator vote for
resubmission?" l do not know wheth-
er you have in mind a Democrat, a
Socialist, a Republican or a Prohibi-
ZIONIST.
II any representative of the incom-
ing Legislature promised his constit-
uents that he would vote for resub-
mission and still believes in 1t he
ought to vote for 1t. He was elected
ON that platform. But l am going to
suppose that you have in mind leg
islator who is not bound by any pre-
vious pledges. which he made during
the progress of last State election,
but he Is free to act according to his
best judgment. In any vote he may
cast he Is sure to vote contrary to the
opinion of many people. There is no
common ground in this issue.
| am not afraid of resubmission
and have not been for a decade. l
believe that all this discussion and
controversy on the temperance issue
will finally settle down to one of Ii
cense or prohibition. l have noticed
in the case of many advocates of re-
submission that they believe in a
license law to govern the sale of in
toxicating liquors. / have never yet
believed in license.
So If l am correct in my above
stated position, and l surely believe
that i am, would not, If l was a
legislator, vote for resubmission,
Therefore, Mr.. Editor, answer your
question In the negative.
Permit me to add just two more
thoughts on this live issue. If
could believe that It would eventual
ly clarity the temperance sentiment
of the State to vote on resubmission
it could not come too soon.
II all the energy, the money. the
time and effort which would be put
into a resubmission campaign could
be put into the execution of our pres
ent temperance laws only a few OF
our citizens would care for resub-
mission license, local option or any