Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-20
The Divided Democracy.

ne DtVtGeQ ISHloSi dSy'
BELOW we give the expression o
two Maine Democratic newspapers
one is the voice. lungs and mouth
piece of the Kennebec Democratic rims
which is setting the Democracy o
Maine by the ears, because of the
violated promises. double-dealing
false pretenses, toadying to the liquor
interests, and general party disloyalty
The other answers the first and stands
for common sense and decency on the
Part of Democratic leaders, although
il apparently honestly believes in
license system and the doing away
with the prohibitory law.
The first is the WaterYille Sentinel,
the other the Lewiston Sun. Here Is
what they say:
on all sides from within and from out
the state, one hears expressions OF up,
proval of the course of Governor ftalstea
in emphasizing the need oil carry ieslsia-
tive action looking to the solution OF the
lauor question in Maine. Nothing Is
more fully demonstrated than the COM
DIete 1aiiUfe WHICH THE f,ldtS iido iAfSo
for q years The wiping out of the tre-
mendous majority by which it became
law the obvious disgust and chagfin or
a much abused and leng-suffering people
clearly demonstrated by the big repeal
vote of the cities and by the slap at the
law administered by the towns Justihes
the governor in promptly meeting the
issue face TO face and TO secure through
the legislature, some form of legislation
which will measure the sentimenf and
the conditions of the peopfe in cities and
towns. e.
All good citizens regardless Of party
affiliations will subscribe to this. state
ment, and we doubt not all good citizens
will hold up the hands OF the governor
IN his earnest purpose that nulllheatlon
and bad law must give place to the plain
will of the people.-Wateryille Sentinel.
Plain will of the people. inteed.
The last authoritative expression of
the will of the people was in the Sep
TENDER election, 1911. In that Sep
TENDER election the people declared
that they preferred to keep the Pro-
hibition Amendment in the Constitu-
tion. Now it's up to Governor Paist-
ed and the Legislature of 1911 TO leave
it there.
Many of US were disappointed in the
result of that election. But il is ride
uleus TO talk about the demand for a
change being SO great that the Legis-
lature ought to be summoned to pass
another resubmission resolve. This
Legislature of 1911 has done all 1t was
elected to do about liquor in the Con-
stitution. It was elected on the re.
submission issue and it resubmitted
1t was not elected to resubmit twice,
II is absurd to say that when the peo-
pie voted No they meant that they
only wanted another chance to vote
on the same issue. The people voted
No, and must be taken to mean No.
The people turned down the Legisla-
ture of 1911.
So now the only proper way to con-
tinue the fight against Constitutional
prohibition is to again make it the is
sue in the regular State election. Gov
ernor Plaisted's only right course is to
go to, the people again on the issue of
resubmission. His reelection must de-
pend largely on his record as Cover
nor. We believe that will be found to
be so good that he may confidently ask
reelection. And let him demand Of
the people also the election of another
Legislature that will pass another re-
submission resolve. A new Legisla
ture elected on that issue would have
a mandate to resubmit. Would be
warranted in resubmitting. This Leg.
islature of 1911 is not warranted il
resubmitting has no mandate.
After all the CUFF the Democratic
party has got off about the will of the
people, after the building-up of thai
childish machinery of initiative ant
a. Il.
enable the people to have their will
the Democratic party will belle it
professions if it presumes now, afte
the people have specifically turne,
down its proposition, to go right on il
spite of the peoples decision.
More important than any liquor poll
cy is government by public opinion,
There ought not to be an extra ses
sion of the Legislature except in gen
eral to meet an emergency. That til
need of change in the Constitutions
liquor policy is not an emergency
proved by that 27 years of the preseI
policy. 1t has been q years of oil
grace. TWenty-seven years Of fals
pretense, mock morality. But the pei
pie have seemed to prefer that wa.
This September election was real
firmation of it. That mock moralit.
SO soon after that specific reafiirmf
ton, cannot be treated as an emel
gency condition To follow that ri
affirmation with another resubmissio
resolve is to iiout the will of the pee
pie.
Governor Plaisted ought not to ca
an extra session.-Lewiston Sun.