The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-03-02

1863 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 70 oZ 81
This last vote was the only one of the
series taken bv Legislature elected in a
campaign in which the question was
souarely at issue: That is, when one
party had resolved for, and the other
party against resubmission. At this
writing, the vote in the Legislature in
session has not been taken. But the
result has been forecast in the opening
paragraphs of this article.
In the fall of 1907 a prominent Repub
lican, man of probity and worth, an
nounced himself as candidate for the
Republican nomination for Governor.
1908, upon a resubmission platform. In
his canvass he declared himself to be a
prohibitionist. He promised that if re-
submission came, he would stump the
State for the retention of constitutional
prohibition. His advocacy Of resubmis-
sion naturally extended aid and comfort
to ''resubmissionists." 1t proved dis
astrous, nevertheless, to his gubernator-
ial aspirations. His competitor for the
nomination, proclaiming himself for pro-
hibition and against resubmission, secur
ed such an overwhelming majority Of the
State convention, that our resubmission
tiously stating that there had been re-
submission in his case, and he was salts
fed that his own party did not want it
That convention declared squarely for
prohibition, and against resubmission.
nounced for the latter, but was silent as
to the former. In the ensuing election
the Republicans elected more represen-
{ot tLo T LOFT oh
fall, than in the preceding election,
sion. In the Legislature the next win
ton and solidly against resubmission.
Early in 1910 it became apparent that
the tide was setting in Maine, as through
the country, against the Republican
party. Not few political observers in
sweep the State into Democratic control.
EARLY convinced of that, | did what l
could to keep the resubmission issue out
of the campaign. The Republican State
convention made no reference to it.
The Republican papers and orators kept
silent upon it. Some of the Democratic
leaders were as willing to ignore it.
Though the usual plank was put in their
platform, it was not referred to in the
keynote speech of their presiding officer.
During the campaign their speakers
generally ignored it. Everywhere it
was subordinated to the issue of the
State finances. This latter was, in fact,
the all-engrossing local issue. That and
the high cost of living and the general
trend toward Democratic rule, defeated
the Republicans of Maine. Resubmis-
sion was so far out of sight that even
The Portland Express, in every other
actively antagonistic to it, in
this had not word to say upon it.
Immediately after the election, when
it was known that the Republicans had
lost the Governor and both Houses of the
the talk about resubmission
was revived. Meanwhile some one rep
himself as an official of some
sort of liquor distillery, advertised him
self extensively in the Maine papers as
the potent influence that had wrought
the change. However, the party com
mitted to resubmission, despite its gen.
eral success, had failed to elect to the
Legislature the two-thirds required to
change the constitution. Technically,
resubmission had again been
defeated by the people. Had the ques-
ton been one Of removing Republican
official on political grounds, such removal
requiring two-thirds vote of both
Houses, the incumbent would have been
as safe in Office as if his party had car
ried both branches unanimously.
1t is to be remembered, however, that
from the inception of the movement for
some leading friends of
prohibition favored it. A great many
other voters, not specially interested one
way or the other, but naturally favor
able to the retention Of the Prohibitory
clause in the constitution, has been of the
opinion that the people should again pass
upon the subject. The result of the
election naturally led large numbers who
had heretofore actively opposed it, to
withdraw all opposition to it. 1t was
soon evident that it could be no longer
delayed.
In dividing upon this question the i'm
mediate issue, be it understood, did not
directly involve prohibition. Some men
from both parties in the Legislature,
who are pronounced prohibitionists, re-
cord themselves for resubmission. And
among the voters at large in the State,
the same is true. While the earlier plat
form declarations for resubmission were
coupled with denunciations of prohibi-
ton, later expressions for it have voiced
no such antagonism. And what has in
these latter days been urged for it, fire.
quently has been associated with the
declaration that it was not aimed against
prohibition. Governor Plaisted, as a
candidate, on the stump last fall, took
occasion to assure his hearers that the
resubmission plank in the platform upon
which he stood had no bearing upon pro-
hibition. He said it was an assertion of
the right of the people to pass upon the
question: that, and nothing more.
Speaking generally, however, all who
are opposed to prohibition have favored
resubmission, and it is impossible to
avoid the conclusion that its success is a
great advantage to those who would SUBJ
stitute for prohibition some form of leg
islation more acceptable to the liquor in
terests. Division upon the question
among the friends of prohibition has led
to their abandonment of the citadel pro-
vided by the constitution, and to their
exposing prohibition to direct assault
which will be financed and aided to the