Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-17
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from Page Five.)

among Il great many people. il ami
mates IL great many high minded.
honorable and web meaning people
haven't any question. There are others.
ana as | say ! aln coming To thu con-
clusion that | am one of them. who
feel ON account of the fact that the
Constitution Is properly and funda
mentally no place for this kind of leg
l5latioH, that it should he removed
from the Constitution and Kept on the
statute books OF the State where it
IAN be handled By tie legislature and
the people; and think that the mum
bcr of people who take that attitude
will constantly increase and has iu-
creased largely Of late. There are
some OF course who will vote for this
With the idea of taking it out of poll
ties. q reason based a good deal upon
expectancy perhaps but Il reason they
are entitled To have: and | think it
will have a good deal of effect along
those lines. Mr.. Speaker. No doubt
there are Il lot of people, lot Of young
men in tn" State who have come to
the front aud say that they are a new
generation and that they feel they
want To be cons dcrcd. they want to
have a Vut" ana Il voice on this mat
ter. Probably they wouldn't hay, had
that thought if this matter had not
been asitatcd SO much. Probably some
people want Ia vote on this matter be-
cause they think they are deprived
perhaps of some rights that they
ought to have. That idea may have
been unconsciuuslH fostered by politi-
cal speakers during the last several
campaigns. II simply goes to swell
the number Ut citizens of the State
who take the position ] have indicated
that they desire and demand an opEcr-
tunity to vote upon this question. |
think those groups of people with
those various reasons each of which
they are entitled to haVe-Whether
they are logical in some eases or not
1t seems To- them that they have
right TO th"m-I think those groups
OF people taken together are rapidly
becoming and have become more than
Il majority OF the people of the State.
On the other side of course there is
one large reason which has been and
always will be given for refusing to
submit this amendment to the people.
aud that Is because the people may
vote To repeal the pruhibitory law and
may allow the sale of liquor without
sufficient restrictions. That is the one
fundamental reason which has been
given. | cannot see that any other
can be given for a refusal to submit
this law. this constitutional provision
TO the people. That is a perfectly
honest reason that may seem. that
does sem to a large number of people
of the State to be a reason for their
attitude in opposing this resolve. The
only thing is whether they consider
that the demand of the people should
be heard or whether they have right
to say that the Legislature shall have
the say as to what is best for the peo-
pie and not allow the people to inter-
fere in the matter.
Now, Mr. Speaker, | have cn4cavOred
to present these considerations as they
occur TO me without any regard to
party lines or craftsmanship. II one
We're to discuss this matter from a
party standpoint, it seems to me that
nothing could be more expedient for
the members of the Republican party
than to assist in the passage of an
amendment of this kind. This thing
has been a sore in the body of the Re-
publican party for years. 1t has Tester
ed. 1t has spread. it has almost killed
the party. the way | look at lt-al-
most killed 1t. There is nothing for
US to do but to get it out of our syS-
tenn. If we can get this once out of
our system. fellow Republicans, we can
get well; If we cannot we wont.
: daughter and applause But, Mr..
Speaker. believe we should rise above
craftsmanship in. this matter. do not
look at it along epartyS kss. @'ls believe
that each of VI shd Id 9t11urbn this
matter as he thinks IS best&and right
for the interests and the best welfare
of the State without regard to preju-