Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-12
Enforcement and Expected Results.

Law may stand or fall upon its merit"
Two years Of 1t. whatever the result
may be!'
Good! Go ahead and enforce the
law! Don't enforce It in spots but
clear the liquor out of favored places
whore some OF your legal lights have
succeeded in maintaining it. When it
has been eeized. don't force tho off,
GERS, through technicalIties, to return
1t. Clean out tho rum clubs as we'll
as the dives and the pockets of tho
pcddlers. Strangle the appetites Of tho
distinguished ones who have made 1t
possible to make the law mockery
in spite Of every attempt Of honest Re-
publican officials to enforce it. You
have the tools in your hands. now. ID
we'll as those who have blocked sue
cessful enforcement. Combine them
and bring about that which you have
declared to be mpossible-absolutc en-
forcement.
If you will do that you will win the
applause Of tho progressive and tenn
perance people Of the state. and will
justify and glorify that which you
angle. and now admittedly hope to
kill by giving it virllc life.
Democratic promises and declara-
tions could hardly be expected to win
marked approval, but it will be forth
coming if the announced program is
carried out. Go ahead and make
good"-if that lies in making proh!bi-
ton unpopular by enforcement. The
Democratic party certainly has shown
it's .ability"-to so render the law in
operative that incumbents we've well
nigh helpless and faith in the law
was weakened. Therein lay their sue
cess In the last campaign.
Now that You have the handling Of
the law and the nulllfiers in ono rank.
get busy and show that the law is
all that has been claimed for it. The
Republican party and the believers in
prohibition outside Of that party will
approve the demonstration Of the cf-
ficacy Of the law and will take the
chances of its becoming SO unpopular
as to cause its repeal.
After all that has been said and
done. it Is up to the Democratic ad-
ministration to carry out it's proposal
to the letter Shut every drop of. H.
quOr out of the State If possible. and
satisfy Democracy whether or not the
people will become so dry in two years
they will demand Z. food.
If there are any squealers it will he
those who went over with their bal
lots in tho hope that 1t would bring
what they had every reason to ex-
pect-an era of wholesale notification
and easy drinks.
II you Gun demonstrate that "tho
prohibitory law is wrong in principle
because it undertakes TO solve the H.
quor question from the wrong side"
by enforcing the law to the last gasp.
then you will have Won the right to
resubmlssion. Rut people arc still
skcptical OF Democratic professions.
They prefer to wait and see whether
1t IS q drought or 4 humbug.
We have no fear of such q program
as promised upsetting the prohlbitory
system. We believe If there IS any
agency that can thoroughly and Of
fectively enforce the prohibtory law
It is the Democratic party. because 1t
has both tho power and the nullifiers
1t will receive no opposition from the
Republican ranks. who will be only
too glad to see the law enforced. For
fought an uphill fight to free the State
Of liquor and have been opposed every
inch OF the way by all the obstacles
the Democratic party could devise.
Now 80 on and enforce the law
Please don't recall any of your legal
talent from Washington 70 defend the
property Of so-called clubs and "blind-
tiger" societies. But clean it out as
you profess you are bound to do.
frankly admitting the while your pur-
pose TO thus secure the repeal Of the
prohibitory law.
Discharge your every responsibility
with honor to your leaders, with cred
it to your rank and file" and show that
Republican officials could have en-
forced the law long ago-if their cf-
forts had not been rendered futile by
the greatest leaders and the rank and
file OF your party.
Keep your pledges and sec whose
unsatisfied appctites first lead to re-
bellion,