The Washington herald., 1911-04-30

peHCH ana our eyes met. i COulQ see the
edge Of a smile at the corners Of his
mouth. The forty were nsturalized. AT
the election that followed We swept the
town. I was elected city clerk and city
| solicitor, and also a member Of the board
Of education. Thus began my active part
in politics.
Later I was delegate to our State
convention. As a member Of the commit
tee on resolutions, I offered a plank IA
voring a resubmittal OF our prohibition
| amendment to vote of the people In
Maine. the sale and manufacture Of liquor
are outlawed by our constitution. My
plank was defeated, 8 to Z. Then I pre-
sented minority report to the conven-
ton. held that the liquor question had
no place in our constitution, and that the
traffic in alcohol should be regulated by
legislative enactment. Such prohibition
as We had in Maine, / said, was farcical
and hypocritical. 1t was enforced in the
country and wholly ignored elsewhere,
that politicians. playing fast and loose
with the public, might get into ONCE.
My plank was discussed by the news
papers and In that way was introduced
into State politics.
There was talk. next year, Of nomi-
mating me for governor. / had recently
formed partnership with Mr.. Webb, the
most successful lawyer in Waterville,
and meant to practice law for the rest
OF my life. That was in 1892. 1 was
thirty-four years old Mr.. Webb. Re
publican, and one Of James G. Blaine's
closest political friends, advised me to ac-
cept the nomination because it would
widen my acquaintance and add to my
experience. I stumped the sixteen coun-
ties in Maine and cut the normal Re-
publican plurality in half. was nomi-
mated in 1894 and again defeated at the
POLLS. Since then, until took my place
in the Senate on April 4. I have attended
to my own business. Stih, I have been
around during political campaigns.
making speeches and standing for my
principles. Between times I fish and
study Masonry
How has the Initiative and referendum
law worked in your State?' ! asked.
I'VE have only put it to the test on two
occasionS-once when there was a vote
about a bridge at Portland, and again
over the question of dividing the old city
Of York. Both matters were local. The
initiative and referendum was agitated
in Maine for a number OF years. starting
with our farmers. who are we'll or
ganized. Both political parties have in
dorsed the reform in their platforms.
While / was in the legislature. I intro
duced a bill establishing the initiative
and referendum and extending It SO as
to include amendments to our constftu-
tIon. The legislature was Republican,
however, and voted 1t down. but passed
ANOTHER measure that omitted my con-
stitutional provision. While the law has
only been tried in the two instances l
have mentioned, / am sure 1t will give
satisfaction. because It affords the people
%
lation and to veto any legislation that Is
against the public interest"
DO YOU think that representative gov
ernment has proved to be a failure?"
II do not. but in my opinion the initi-
ative and the referendum will make rep
resentative government better and
stronger, In that II will be a wholesome
check on the members Of our legislature
who will not care to have their work
nullified at the polls by the voters. Fur
thermore, the people will show a greater
interest in public matters, and will be
watchful where formerly they were in
different. No bill passed by the Maine
legislature can go into operation until
ninety days after the end CT the session.
Thus there Is time for investigation. II
a measure is bad. 10000 voters. by sign
ing a petition, can compel a direct vote
of the people on that particular question.
AS for myself, I think the initiative and
referendum is sound In morals and COM
mon sense. II an act Of any legislature
can't stand argument and inspection. It
out to be voted into the limbo Of things
that never should have BEEN
Maine I said. 'is supposed to be
dry State"
''On the contrary" Senator johnson re-
piled. ''it is a very wet State. The pro-
hibition amendment was added to our
by politicians who wanted
to fool and please the rural regions. 1t
has been used for political purposes
right along-with prohibition in the
country, where public sentiment is hos
tile to the liquor traffic. and with open
Is not wanted by q majority of the peo-
pie. 1t is a long story and not at all
creditable to those concerned.
While principal Of the public school
at Machias in 1884, I went to the polls end
openly voted against injecting prohibition
into the constitution Of our State. Women
were there. working among the men and
serving hot coffee. 1 was at the head OF
the school system and was required, 50
was told, to be moral example in the
community. The vote I cast then was
right and I have never thought any diff
ferently. Drinking Is an evil which 1
understand and condemn, but turning
men into hypocrites and lawbreakers is
no remedy for bad situation. I venture
to say that II a candidate for office were
publicly to announce that he meant to
enforce the prohibition law he would lose
twelve Of the sixteen counties in the
State.
IT believe that any law should be
obeyed or repealed. II 1t is not obeyed,
the decentralization of character begins,
both individual character and the charac-
ter Of the community as q whole. All
kinds Of liquors can be bought in Maine.
as have said. Whisky is shipped from
Boston. Occasionally. the saloons are
closed temporarily. When that occurs,
whisky comes from other States in jugs
and kegs and men who might ordinarily
take q drink or two each day resort to
secret places and stay drunk for a week
TO the neglect Of their work at the mills
and factories. Drinking clubs are com.
mon in the State. Whisky il sold at our
hotels; one can smell It while he ip regis
tering his name. as its odor comes yelling
out of the barroom. And what are the
Lying and lawbreaking by
dealers and purchasers and the corrup-
tion Of sheriffs and police ohlcerG In
of beer could be sold. The brewer, you
paid for the privilege Of mo-
the trade. II Q saloonkeeper
attempted to sell some other brand he
was crested and his place was closed.
Mea.. while. the dealers IN liquor are vot-
Ing the ticket CT the party that governs
TIE city or coulstS in which they ere To-
Gated. When Q sheriff honestly tries to
enforce the Law. he 10 sdefeatsd for re-
election. IA the phraseology Vf our busi-
ness men. such . sheriff y lacking u