The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-06
MAINE DEMOCRATS
ARE EMBARRASSED.
JUDGE POLLOCK TELLS or THE
EFFORTS or THE DEMOCRATS
IN MAINE TO GET REsURMis-
SION BEFORE THE PEOPLE ON
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

With the interest In Maine center.
ing towards the great fight for con-
tinuance OF state wide prohibition ir
that state, all attention is being turned
towards the old time home OF prohi.
bition The democrats are making
q hard fight to introduce liquor sales
again In the state
In speaking Of the situation Judge
Pollock who has just returned from
that state said:
The democratic party OF Maine is
IN rather an embarrassing situation.
For over forty years they have been
trying to get into power, have adopted
every ism, and supported every polit
lcal notion with the hope of success.
Many OF the planks in their platform
heretofore have been written therein
purely as a matter of form There
are a large number OF the members of
IN democratic party In the state of
Maine very much In favor Of prohibi-
ton, who. so long as the party was
not in power, paid but little atten-
ton to the platform.
Last fall they went before the peo-
pie largely upon issues involved be-
tween what Is known as the progress
sive and stand pat theories In govern
mental affairs, and they added claus
that they were in favor of resubmis-
sion. OF course, they did not expect
to win more than possibly the cleo
tlon OF governor and an occasional
state officer. but to their surprise aft
er election they woke up to find that
all the republican state officers were
defeated, from governor down, and
and that they had large working
majority in the legislature.
They Immediately elected Senator
johnson to take the place of Senator
Hale and 1t has so happened that
since that election Senator Frye has
died and of course the democratic
governor will appoint a democrat to
succeed Senator Frye.
The governor and the attorney
general, elected upon the platform
containing clause for resubmission,
Ieit that It was their duty to see to
IT, and the liquor power demanded
tnat they make good upon that cues
ton, so the decree went forth that
there should be a vote upon the SUBJ
sect OF the retention in the constitu-
ton OF the prohibitory clause.
Here Is where the embarrassment
arises, as always does wren
party adopts plank merely
as a subterfuge. and without any real
consideration OF the merits involved
in he issue. The embarrassment has
grown more severe as the campaign
progresses. The question Of prohi-
bftion In the south has become a very
live one, and is supported by some
very brilliant southern democratic
statesmen. Among the number are
Cong. Richmond p. Hobson OF Ala
bama and Ex-Governor Glen of North
Carolina, both democrats, and both
of whom are now stumping the state
of Maine In favor Of the retention of
the prohibitory clause, which of course
puts them in opposition to the demo-
cratic platform In that state.
1T is alleged that Senator johnson
and ether leading democrats OF the
state attempted to get these men not
to speak. and especially attempted to
bring sufficient influence upon Con-
gresham Hobson to prevent him from
again returning to Maine for the last
ten GAYS Of the campaign. One of Mr.
Hntson's constituents In Alabama
wrote him with reference to the mat
ter, and the following letter. cut from
The Portland (Me.) Evening Express
Of Sept. 2, is illustrative Of the posi-
Lion which Mr.. Hobson takes in the
matter. 1t will be interesting reading
matter:
1T is well known that prominent
politician In Maine objected to Can |
tain Hobson's speaking in the state
Tor the retention Of prohibition, oven
asking his Alabama constituents to |
prevent his participation In the cam |
paign, but Captain Hobson is coming
and Mrs, Hobson is coming with him. |
Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens is arranging for |
Captain Hobson 10 speak at some of |
the particular points In the state. be-
ginning Sept. 3, at Bar Harbor. and
speaking each day until Sept. Ii,
THE following letter from Captain
Hobson to his Alabama constituency |
shows the true character OF this great |
hero:
My Dear Constituent: You have, |
no doubt. noticed In the press criti- |
cism Of my action as a Democratic |
member Of congress In accepting an
Urgent invitation to go to Maine and |
lake part In the critical struggle now
going on to preserve prohibition IN |
that citadel OF temperance. ReaHz- |
ng my full accountability to you as |
! public servant, thing II is right and
timely for me to let you know that
have been taking part, as far ais my |