Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-06


the most of life and its oppart unitiea we
upon law.
The people of Maine are and always
have been a temperate people. I believe
We have shared in the general upift of
the human race consequent upon the
greater mastery OF man over himself and
tie greater de mand In all walks of life
tor men of clear brains as well as honest
hearts: just as | also believe that today
is better than was yesterday and that
tomorrow will be better than today.
More could have been accomplished by
AN honest effort to get our fellow man to
regulate himself by forces from within
than by trying TO regulate him by forces
from without
Sturois Law Reoudiated
This attempt at regulation by law
reached its elimination IN this state in
the enactment sin years ago of statute
which created 4 special commission to be
appointed bN tn" Governor and CHARGED
With the duty of enforcing the prolIib-
tory liquor law in those sections of the
state where III its Oplalon 1t was not be-
ing enforced by the local authorities,
This statute. wrong IN principle, op-
posed TO local Sei-&oNGfhmeht, Snppldht-
ing officers elected by the people by those
appointed by the commission, aroused at
the start the opposition of our citizens
which increased rather thah diminished
with lapse Of time. / MS so called stun
gis LAW" declared unconstitutional, in
part, by the supreme Court, has not only
failed TO promote the cause of temper
ance but has created feeling of strong
resentment in every county where the
commission has operated. disturbing the
orderly and friendly relations which
ousht 70 EN-, oG.f'0u tne 9ta sd 4 tha
author ity of the state IL enforce payment
of the eXpens incurrNi in the execution
Of this STATUTE is que toned and htiga-
may be carried to the supreme Court Of
the United States.
Tie people of Maine have unmistakablS
Set the seal of condemnation upon this
law and BY the most potent means at
their command, the ballot. have en-
phatically repudidted il. trust that YOU
will not be unmindlul Of thalr wishes l.. hut
their will. ,
J Leaving aside the question of whether
Ithc present law affords the best reSuia-
which there is an honest difference of
opiuionz-there ean be no question that
bit is The duty % every official 70 enforce
Il he plnhibitoTv law so long as it remains
f1noh the statute hooks. For years we
have been passing laws 10 please certain
classes. and failing to enforce them to
pleas others. ,,.-.,..
The time has arrived when plain WORDS
should be spoken. For more than half a
century we have had upon our statute
books and for a quarter of century in
of the manufacture and sale If intoXicat-
ing liquors: and. looking back over these
years. no fair minded man can refrain
from feelings of disgust. Not only has
the purpose failed of accomplishment,
but hypocrisy corruption and disrespect
for law have been begotten
I'll r.. to- .Mor. .,u"
inc Wy '0' o'e
TO satisfy the demands of those who.
With little knowledge OF the conditions
they sought u improve and seeing but
one method OF dealing with them, cried
out for more law" statutes after stat
utcs have been enacted with the consent
of legislative leaders who never intended
they should be enforced. Is it any Won
der that laws SO enacted should be open
X violated when not supported by public
sentiment?
The time il ripe for a fun, free and
honest discussion anu c"hSlu i', ,la vi
of citizenship and the wcl-beng of all
classes. We are dealing with a problem