Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-25

net do their duty, it certainly occurs
to me that in all the years past they
might possibly have found an oppor-
tunity to practise that sort of thing.
1t does occur to me there must have
been some time in the past, a time
when they Were confronted with the
fact that the officers elected by the
people were not enforcing the law,
and it was up to them.
1t might have caused some trouble
and lost them some votes / am in
clined to think, and | believe now,
from political standpoint. if this
Legislature, to say nothing about the
GoverneT-the Legislature is respon-
sible body and ii they should UNDER
take TO impeach officers in Penohscot,
perhaps Cumberland and Androseog-
gin counties, why, that would bring a
smile from our Republican friends.
They would say: What a chance we
have got. They don't know enough tn
play politics on an A b C line" and
they would be right.
1t seems TO me like this They come
in here and give us their version of
what the Governor promised. What
have they got to offer us to lead us To
believe that we would get anything
else than notification of law or Ii 4
cense by the fining system? They
have nothing. 1t is true they had an
enforcement commission, and they
We're making a farce of the enforce
ment OF the law through the Sturgis
deputies. When that law was repeal
ed, last winter. | was somewhat
amused. They almost held a jolifi-
cation. They said we had lost our grip
and wanted to know what we would
do now.
Here is an idea. The Stursis law is
repealed, and ii we are to have en-
forcement in those localities where
there is no local sentiment that viii
enforce it, it is up to us to either sub
nit some proposition for the people to
act upon, or to put through some sort of
a law that will place In the Governors
hands something to enforce it. Would
trey not be pleased if we would pass
the Sturgis law We didn't believe in
that method. We believe the people.
should settle these questions. The fact
was revealed in the late election that
the country towns are satisfied with
constitutional prohibition. The cities
are not satisfied. Every man knows
that the law cannot be enforced sue
cessfully by the local officers without
the support of the people. Talk about
the recall. What is the use of recalling
an officer that is enforcing the law
just as the people who elected him
want il enforced? The recall might be
worth something in one county; if We
should happen to get a man elected
as sheriff in Somerset county. l be-
lieve. with the sentiment existing
there, today. he could not be recalled,
but how about counties where there
are large cities and the majority of
the population would not be satisfied
with the enforcement of the law?
A short time ago a prominent gen
tleman from another portion of our
county, candidate for office, Re-
publican and q good fellow. was over
To my town and Democratic friend
OF mine remarked, Why, are YOU go
ing to support Sheriff Meoers, q Dem
oeratie sheriff." And he replied that
he was in favor of the Republicans
dominating him. My friend asked him
why, and lie said "You know we new
er have been able To elect faar sher-
if in this county that WOULD give us
straightforward enforcement OF the
law. Here is a man that viii enforce
ii and we are going to elect him.
That seemed to me to be a pretty open
confession. This party that always
had IT in their platform. did not sue 4
coed in - years in electing a man IN
Somerset county that dealt honestly
with this question. / think that was
ouitc compliment to the man we
elected, and also to the party.
In 1902, the Democrats of Somerset
county in convention assembled took
up the matter The matter was get
ting serious in our county. Open SELL
ing, license by fine; and in some towns
the license amounted to quite a little.
Not SO much as it would under To-
cal option law, bth quite good deal
for a county that believed III prohibit
ton There was quite a lot of feeling
about it and the Democrats pledged
themselves to the enforcement of the
law. They were successful in electing
a sheriff; and the balance of the Re-
publican ticket was successful by
about 2000 No sooner was this man
elected sheriff than the sheriff that
had been serving for nearly four
Years, says, II llldI Ia Nlldt wv Nd1t
[ can give il to you as we'll as Dem
ccrat" And the whole thing changed
right around. Where there had been
open selling of liquor. he closed them
up, and throughout the balance of the
administration of Mr.. Lang we had
enforcement straight and square.
They tried another man who came
up with a new set of promises and
held it for two years, but his admin
istration was not satisfactory 10 his
own party and we elected another
man with the same understanding,
and that is what we shall do in the
future, stand for the enforcement of
law We can do that there because the
people will stand behind us, and be-
lieve both parties in the future Will
be obliged to enforce the law.
They tell US this question is settled
II is settled in just this way; unless
something is done other than what
we have before us at the present time.
We have man for Governor who is
endeavoring to serve the state OF
Maine in a straightforward manner.
If he wanted to play politics he would