Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-17

uppH tnoSe Questions. u might just
as we'll be recognized. Now | main
tain that before we come to any dis
cussion Of the relative merits OF pro-
hibition and license. we must decide
some vital preliminary questions of
a constitutional nature before we can
act intelligently upon this subject. I
suppose the lawyer naturally and in
stinctively likes to get his feet placed
on the constitution. He feels safer.
What does it say? Under what are
we acting? What is the question, any
how? How do We get at it? The
Constitution. Mr.. Speaker. says in Ar
ticle 10. Section 2, The Legislature
whenever tWo-thirds of both Houses
deem it necessary may propose amend
ments to the Constitution" That is
what we can do il we deem it neces-
sary. Well. now. what are the rights
of the people? How do they stand
towards this matter? Is there any
thing here which gives them any in
tereSt in the settlement OF this qucs
ton?
Mr.. Speaker. the first Article of the
Constitution is the very bedrock. the
foundation stone Of the whole cdi-
flee. In that is specified the natural
and primary rights of citizens. Upon
that structure the whole edifico stands;
and if that foundation is ever shaken
the whole house falls, Now in the
very second section OF Article l. it is
provided, and always has been. that
all power is Inherent in the people, all
free governments are founded in their
authority and instituted for their
benefit. They have therefore an in
alienable and indefeasible right to in
stitute government and to alter re-
form or totally change the same when
their safety and happiness require it.
1t seems, then, that We cannot get
away from the Fundamental PROPOSE
ton that the people are given at the
start. have always had and have now.
an inalienablc and indefeasible right
to alter. reform or change this form
of government il they deem it neces-
sary, if they deem that their safety
and happiness require it.
Now. then. what is the proper atti-
tude of the Legislature concerning any
proposed change OF this kind? | main
tain and always have that no cnange
in the Constitution. either by taking
anything away or by adding anything
~ II, SlItultt ever ne ttldut unless pre-
coded h1 long continued agitation, Mr..
Speaker followed by demand from
the citizenship. clear and unmistak-
able. Now We certainly have had agi-
tation. This thing has been agitated
publicly for many years, it has been
presented here in the form of auos-
ton similar to this has been discuss
ed here and elsewhere for years. II
has come up here time and time
again. The agitation certainly has
been sufficient. Now is there de-
nand, is the demand clear, is it t1nmis-
taxable? OF course that is the place
where We may divide. That is the
question Of fact. as look at it, wheth-
CT or not the demand is clear and i'm
peratire, because if it is. acting under
their constitutional rights. the people
nave right to vote upon this cues
tlon, and we cannot properly as leg
Islators stand between them and their
rights ii We believe that their dnmand
is clear; II We believe that it Is not.
1t IS our duty, / think. in my attitude
towards this matter, to vote the other
way.
Now Of course there are several
ways Of finding cut how the peonle
stand, upon this question OF their
demand l mean. There is one wav
IN analyzing the votes which they
give for elections, and have given.
1t has been said when The last cleo
non was pointed To as q criterion Of
the desires OF tn" people in this re-
spcct. that other issues We're involved
besides resuhr0ission, and that is true.
There We're other issues. but Il YOU
begin, Mr.. Speaker. hac!; in 1901 and
analyze the votes given for Governor
by these people. by our fellow citizens,
and rerCembtr ut tie same time since
that tire every year this question
of resuhmission has been invariably
an issue in tic platf0rm of both par-
ties, and when vou notice that fror,
1901 to 1910 the plurality for the Re-
publican candidate Shrinka from 2f,00l
10 minus 5000, a constantly decreasing
plralltN every year. and remember
that all the time this issue WAS one
Of the issues and that there IVES 10
other issue Whica was . living issue
each time, ] maintain that the
conclusion which have come to that
the people imperativcly demand an OPP
portunity II vote upon this amend
mcnt is clear, that is, that is tie way
At appears To ne. Also If you will
examine the votes given by TIC Leg
islature upon this question from time
20 time 1T every session during this
period you viii -cea constantly IN
crossing prmDfr given in favor of
submitting this amendment, beginning
lhinli with %. and ii | am not mis-
taken the last time it received some
30 or CO. Those are in sense straws.
prott" strong ones, but / think they
indicate what | maintain to be the
fact. Then every one Of Us has sources
OF information, every one of us knows
4 good many people i'll different parts
Of the Statc--2rd l put il to YOU.
gentlemen, ii wheE you were going
around and seeing people End convers-
ing with them in this State, il is not
your judgment that the demand OF
the people for IN opportunity to vote
upon this Important constitutional
amendment is decisive, is clear, is
present with us. do not mean that
everybody in the Stale demands it.
| maintain. however, that n majority
of the citizens of this State are IL