Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-09
Editorial Comment
Not Sufficient Reason.
Lewiston SUM


| We believe Governor Plaisted's rea
sons for calling an extra session o
the Legislature are not sufficient.
First, that requirement in the re-
solve that the Governor report TO the
Legislature" instead of Ito the next
legislature as required by previous
amendment resolves. If this Legisla
ture had special reason for wishing
Ito meet in special session 10 consider
the vote on the amendment, il should
have put into the resolve specific in
lstruetion to the Governor to call an
extra session. or should have made its
adjournment to suitable date for
that PURPOSE.
| Nor can it BE said that failure To
report 10 the right Legislature viii de-
lfeat the election. The election de-
cided that the Constitution remain un-
changed: il must remain unchanged.
and Interchangeable h any failure of the
| Governor in the performance of for
NAL duty. The will al the people is ac-
icomplished. the LEGISLATURE can stay
at home.
Second, the bad election laws. Now
the election laws were not the issue
on which Governor Plaisted and the
Legislature of 1911 were elected. The
election laws ought not to be changed
until they have been made the issue in
"a State election campaign. Governor
Plaisted does not know how the people
want the election laws changed; the
Legislature of 1911 doesn't know how
the people want the election laws
changed; they have no right to pre-
sumo that the people want the cleo
ton laws changed at all because there
happened to be irregularities in q close
election. Governor Plaisted ought not
to call a special session of the Legis-
lature TO change the election laws. The
Legislature if called in special ses-
sion. ought not TO change the election
laws.
Third, the cities and the liquor law
This is only the same old issue in lam
gnage varied. Ii is the issue OF Con-
stilutional Prohibition. That is the is
sue on which the Democrats won in
1910. Ii was on that issue that Gov
ernor Plaisted and the Legislature OF
1911 were elected. They carried out
the mandate of the people when they
passed the resubmission resolve. That
was the extent of their mandate as to
prohibition. Before they do anything
more about prohibition they should go
To the people for now mandate That
is, they should wait and make that the
issue in another State election.
The resubmission failed. The situa-
tion is now as if there had been no
resubmission. The agitation must be
started new. So far as legislation is
the present Governor and
Legislature have performed their as
signment. Before they do any more
let them go 10 the people and get
elected again.
Much is said tn Sc days about the
people taking the government in their
own hands. We have initiative and ref
erendum. And there is the recall. And
elaborate primary election laws. All
for more perfectly getting the say of
the people. But you can't get it that
way. The only way 10 get the unques-
Itionable expression Of the win of the
people in legislation is to keep the
laws as they are until the people de-
|clare what change they want in the
law by electing a Legislator on the
issue of that particular change When
the Legislature has made the change,
it should go home and leave the law
as il is till the people elect new
Legislature on new issue.
Give MS government by public opin-
ion.
Let's have no more monkeying with
prohibition till new Legislature has
been elected after a new prohibition
campaign.
Governor Plaisted ought not to cali
| a special session of the Legislature.