Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-18
Editorial Comment
What Gov. Cobb Says.
cortland sunday Press

4 4
| of Rockland has proven gfievous
disappointment to the paid advocates
OF the repeal of the prohibitory
amendment. After many months he
has broken silence and has plainly put
himself on record with the relation to
| the prohibtory law. In an interview
| Saturday he said:
Il intend to vote, in September for
| the retention of the prohibitory amend
ment. and shall do this because | be
lieYe that a vote to that end is the best
contribution | can make 10 the moral,
social and economic welfare Of Maine .
Governor cobb was instrumental in
having enacted into law the so called
Sturgis enforcement act. 1t was
passed because the Governor asked his
LEGISLATURE to give him power to carry
out the promises he had made upon
the stump lie found that the Govern
or of Maine had no power in cnforc-
ing the prohibitory law and he de-
sired To play fair with the RepubH-
cans who had voted for him and who
believed in him. For this reason ne
urged the passage Of the Sturgis law
Governor cobb not only secured the
passage Of this law but he used 1t
effectively He stopped the nulliffca-
ton Of law under Sheriff William NJ.
Pencil in Cumberland county and
also in Bangor, the home of nullifica-
ton. His action did not please the
politicians of his own party, the men
in Office who played fast and loose
with prohibition and at whose door
may be laid the charge of being re-
| hat II
prior to the passage of the Sturgis
law. to the attending falling off in
Republican majorities and finally to
the overthrow of the party in Maine.
Governor Cobb was not pleased with
the way his efforts To secure an hon
est and effective enforcement Of the
prehibitory law Were rewarded. He
was not and is not radical ON this
or any other question but he is now
and always has been a truthful. sim
cere and incorruptible public servant
The ward politicians in his own party
became bitterly hostile to Governor
Cobb but the people believed in him
and stood by him. The ward polita-
clans in Bangor. in Portland, in Rock
land and elsewhere. those who We're
getting a rake off from the rum BUSH
ness. tried to kill Governor Cobb at
the polls because he had played fair
with the party and the people of
Maine The radical professional pro-
hibitionists themselves, always incon
sistent, always dissatisfied, always too
critical. did not support Governor
Cobb as they should have done and
his majority fell away So that ii al
most resulted in defeat
But Governor Cobb was honest and
consistent He may have said then,
and he probably did say, that he was
diseusted at the support he had re-
ceived from his own party and the
people of Maine. He had a right tG
take this view Of affairs and like
other men i'm Maine he expressed
openly his disgust with the men who
sought to remain in office by Cringing
to the rum power and by making
trades with the saloon interests Gov
ernor Cobb now saws that he will vote
for the prohibitory amendment. Why
Because he believes il to be the best
contribution he can make to the moral,
social and economic welfare of M3fne. .
He does not claim that prohibition
prohibits everywhere and all the time
He does not say that the conditions
under prohibition are ideal. He docs
not say that ii prevents men buying
or selling liquor at all places and un-
der every condition. He takes the
same view of the matter as has the
editor of the Press and hundreds. yes,
thousands of other men who have
dared To tell the truth as they saw 1t
and who do not try to dodge the is
sue or who are not inconsistent in
supporting "A good law. Governor
cobb SAYS: Z shall vote for prohi-
bition because ! believe IL is the best
contribution l can make to the moral,
social and economic welfare OF
Maine"