Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-07
GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
Continued from Page one)

on the part OF those entrusted with Of |
ficial duties. Following that rule we |
are compelled to reach the result |
which we have reached The statute |
requires us to tabulate the returns and |
TO declare the result as ii appears"
That is all that we can do. 1t is eX-
actly what we have done. We are not |
u canvassing board. We have no au-
th0rity TO examine and recount bal |
lots or to revise the work of election |
officers excepting in cases where form !
al application is made to us Ia de 50. |
The result as it appears" is what we |
are called upon to declare and we have |
made that declaration.
Other and various important dues- |
tons, raised bH the recent election. re-
main for our consideration In the FIRST
place the Resolve submitting the pro-
hiDitorY amendment To popular vote
is 81 Worded that it seems To make
imperative special session nf the
present Legislature. 1t calls for re-
port 6f the result of this vote To be
made 10 tie legislature. 1t viii be
n3tteod thtd the other resolves sub
mttted al .he same election were not
50 Harded. The resolve relating To the
State - pital, and that relating 10 the
iimii 81 !auIieipal indebtedness both
required report Ia The neyt Legisla
uls. The emission Of the word ''usXt
in the resolve under consideration may
lave been either inad2ertaHt or intAn-
tienal However that may be, Vt must
take I as l. reads and il calls. in
toms for n special session al tins
Legislature Tor the purpose Of reeeiF=
in@ oar report.
i here ore strong reasons Why the
| .ee iSlature ought "a assemble before
another general election IS held. our
| laws relating 10 the conduct et cleo
| tians ae@d revision. The irregularities
| connected with the last election are
nothing short of scaHdalous. There IS
no doubt INT that similar Irregular
| ties have occurred in past elections
bat The public attention was nat called
| to them because the majorities on the
one side or the other were So decis-
i've that q few hundred votes made no
difference = close election has re-
yealed Weaknesses in connection with
Our election laws and lax methods in
the conduct Of our elections of which
none of US suspected the existence
Legislation on this subject is impera-
lively demanded unless We are willing
to permit our elections 10 become a
farce and take the chance of the win
OF the people being thWarted by care
less. ignorant or Inscriptions officials.
! should feel it my duty to call the
Legislature together for this purpose
if there were no other reasons for do
ing so.
The recent election has left the mat
,fr,ts
fic in an even worse position than it
was before the election was held, if
such thing is possible.
An analysis Of the vote shows an
overwhelming majority against pro-
hibition in the cities and a large but
greatly reduced majority for prohibi-
ton in the towns. There is now am
pie evidence as revealed by the vote
that a large number OF the towns pref
ty evenly divide ON the question of
prohibition through constitutional pro-
vision.
There is no question about the de-
sire OF the country towns to retain
prohibition. There is no question
about the desire of the cities to en-
deavor to improve conditions by adopt
ling some other method of dealing with
the liquor traffic. 1t is not hard to
find the reason for this. Prohibition
can be enforced with reasonable sue
cess in the country. 1t cannot be and
never has been successfully enforced
in the cities. II is useless to expect
enforcement in the cities now, after
the people in them have so emphatical-
Is declared against prohibition. No law
can be enforced in communities in
/ which two men out of every three are
opposed to the law.
i There are two courses omen 10 rs
F., one is TO permit the continuation of
that policy of notification which has
existed ever since prohibition began or
To find some common ground upon
Which country and city can honestly
meet and provide law which shall
be satisfactory to beth. The situation
must be met in a spirit of the broad
est tolerance and earnest thoughtful
ness. Fanaticism. bigotry. desire TO
gain temporary political advantage
must yield to the ultimate good of the
Whole great State of Maine. The
country must not persist in forcing
upon the cities an impracticable policy.
/ The cities must not insist upon
changes in the law which are objec
tionable to the country
An amendment u the constitution
; should be submitted TO the people to-
be voted on next September. under the
| terms Of which cities should have the
right to invoke and enact local reglI-
lation within their limits, subject to
the laws of the State. which regula-
ton In some instances would doubt
less mean prohibition. but in any
event would mean majority rule and
respect for law.
Such an amendment would still
leave prohibition in full force in. the
country and in any of the cities where
public sentiment upholds, prohibition,
| believe that the Legislature ought
to submit such an amendment at once