Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-05-23


points an enforcement commission
authorized to name deputies who
may go into any city or town In the
State and arrest liquor sellers and
destroy contraband liquor irrespec-
tive Of the local county oGicials.
That law was passed during the
administration OF Governor William
II. Cobb, who is now candidate to
succeed United States Senator Hale,
and, incidentally, close personal as
well as political friend of former
Congressman Charles e. Littlefeld.
Mr.. Cobb, when he took office. knew
as well as every other intelligent
citizen OF the State of Maine that
Prohibition Is farce. SO he started
out under the Sturgis law to EN-.
force a small measure of the prohib-
itory law.
The result was that Mr.. Cobb's
plurality of $4,000 votes by which
he was elected In 1904 was reduced
to 1888 when he came up for reelec-
tion in 1906; this was the same year
that Maine gave Taft a plurality OF
1854. Furthermore, Governor Bert
NJ. Fernald, who followed Governor
Cobb, was elected by a plurality OF
1885 votes, failing TO come up to the
reduced figures OF Governor Cobb's
second election. In 1902 the Pro-
hibitionists of Maine cast a vote OF
1876; In 1908 their total vote was
1875. Even the Prohibitionists seem
to sicken of the farce. Is there any
wonder that Senator Hale, in his let
ter of withdrawal from the race for
United States Senator, issued SOL
emn warning against the danger OF
Maine going into other political
hands than the Republicans, who
have sponsored the Sturgis law? Let
1t be remembered that the opponents
who have cut down the Republican
strength, stand for resubmission OF
the Prohibition question.
The Sturgis Commission was not
worked very hard during the second
term of Mr.. Cobb, and 1t is reported
that when. during the latter days OF
his administration, Mr.. Cobb was the
guest of honor at the Pine Tree Club
In Boston, he remarked with some
feeling, ITO hell with the Sturgis
law" 1t was the private remark to
q friend In club, and should not
have been repeated, but there are
mighty few people in the State OF
Maine who don't believe that the
comment came straight from the
heart of one of tho most clearhead- |
ed. refined, intelligent, honest, tenn
perate and just Governors that the
State OF Maine has ever had at the
head of its AFFAIRS.
Bert NJ. Fernald may endorse Pro-
hibition by proxy. but he isn't caus-
Ing the Sturgis Commission of his !
to work overtime in !,
enforcing the law.
Why?
Because he knows that should he
do so he would endanger the Repub-
lican control OF the State. He knows
that public opinion does not support
the enforcement of the Prohibition
law. and so he gives his attention to
other things and writes his prohibi-
ton articles by proxy.
The proxy in this instance says,
among other things, THE proprietor
Of a fashionable hotel or drug store
serves his sentence In Jail for vlo-
ating the liquor law, Just as any
other criminal would do"
After reading this, anyone who
las been in Maine wonders whether
his particular Fernald proxy is a
snave or fool. History does not
'ecord that the Chapins, the aristo-
,ratic proprietors Of the aristocratic
Bangor House, ever spent any mo-
nents In Jail or were ever threaten
ID with appearance In the police
,ourt; nor Is anyone ordinarily turn
I'd away from the Bangor House
thirsty. Proprietors OF the famous
Falmouth Hotel in Portland, the
Preble House OF the same city. the