Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-08
Editorial Comment
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
The Proposed Legislative Session

We hesitate to characterize just
what the significance of this blind de-
| yoti0n of the Plaisted administration
| TO the open saloon, seems to signify
| Having fulfilled its promises to resub-
nit. having been defeated at the polls,
/ having dallied for weeks in q vain at
| tempt To find some way to upset the
result. they now betraY a subsection
to the liquor power which is amazing.
| Instead of dropping the dangerous
| topic, they take it up again and with
| a faulty which suggests that they are
dominated by some higher power than
| their own reason. presume To call
special session of the Legislature.
And for what purpose?
! We are told that il is for the pur
pose of suggesting an amendment to
the constitution which shall permit
the sale of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage in cities, whose population
is greater than certain specified
number But, We have just voted on
a proposition which is the exact neg
alive of this. In other words. We have
voted to retain in the constitution
provision which asserts that the man.
ufacture and sale of intoxicating liq-
uors are and forever shall be prohib-
ite1 in Maine. and that the Legisla
ture shall enact suitable laws with
suitable penalties for the suppression
Of said sale and manufacture. The
people have refused to repeal the con-
stitutional amendment. and now
comes this amazing proposal To multi
fv and repeal that law by an amend
ment in the face of the declaration
which says that il shall not be re-
pealed or nulliied.
The Plaisted administration is in deep
water. For the past six months il has
been declaring that 1t was not the IL
cense open-saloon rum-party. But. il it
meets in special session for the purpose
Of submitting such a law. the public will
have right to ask who are the masters
of the democracy in Maine 1t will have
the right TO ask If they are the men OF
time-tried, oldfashioned. loyalty to the
traditions of our State, or are they the
liquor interests of the nation who are
using and have been using the Maine
democracy as is tool and playthings We
shall regret TO believe the latter For
if it Is so indicated there won't be enough
left of the Maine democracy to make
even show of fight on election day.
The membership of the 18th Legislature
has been greatly changed by death and
resignation.
As we have said. nearly every demo-
cratic patriot who year ago was orat-
| ing for public good" has found public
good" to reside chiefly in public office Tor
himself. Consequently. there have been
many designations of distinguished altru-
| lists Mr. Pattangail. Mr.. Wilson. Mr..
Mace-the list might be largely extended
have withdrawn from the forum into
| the peaceful enjoyment of the emou-
ments of Pie
Consequently. the Senate now stands
| numerically, 20 democrats to eight repub-
! Leans. and the House now stands az Z
democrats aud 63 republicans
| The Senate thus has sufficient
| Democratic majority TO yield the two
thirds vote. The House Democrats lack
| much OF two-thirds: they cannot
pfaha bly, hold their entire vote of e
| To n straight oHt license proposition.
| sach as this may possibly be. and we
| eanont conceive how any Republican,
who is true 10 the traditions of his
| parry. or who stands for the policies
| which it has inaugurated can vote
| with the Democratic administrator in
it's effort 10 pass any such amendment.
| Iu order To cary il l. ont of the 81 Re-
publieans must vote for this strictly
party measure
1t may be said that resubmission
would not have passed without Rephb-
| lican votes, but that is a wholly differ
ent proposition Many Republicans
were committed TO resubmission from
one cause and another. Many of those
who voted for resubmission did so be-