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

emergency session, upon what the Gov
ernor has deemed to be solemn occa-
sion. and OF sufficient urgency to au-
thorize him to call special session,
and thon bang through this great meas
ure in a few days, and deliberately leave
a week open when we will draw our
pay. / believe then we will hear a roar
of laughter from Kittery to FIT. Kent.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. Presi-
dent. | should like to be able to con-
ceive of some Democratic legislation
that the Senator from Aroostook would
not object to. l understand perfectly
well, and l think everybody else does,
that he is doing this for political bun
combe. | do not blame him. The issue
that we have met here is the only issue
II . Republican party has to find fault
vth Democracy. For great many
years the Republican party of the State
of Maine has had control of the Legis-
lature. And you have not originated a
piece of legislation that has been in the
interest of the common people of the
State of Maine, | have no doubt but
what the voters of the state of Maine
having three months to examine the
road bill or any other bill of this ses-
sion, are bright and intelligent enough
to know what that bill means. / am
glad that this Legislature has shown the
people of the state that the Democratic
party is progressive party, and that
we have passed legislation here for the
whole people.
Now ] should not have spoken here,
but l found that the effort made by the
Senator from Aroosteok, when he talks
so much about the bill. is an insult to
the voters of the state; when he says
that they are not intelligent enough to
comprehend what the bill is. l have no
doubt that having three or four months
to look il over, they are intelligent
enough to understand it, and if they are
not let us appropriate money and send
the Senator from Aroostook over the
state to instruct them.
As far as the ballot box is concerned
and the election law, ! think that the
amendment put in there, that the bal
lots be sent to the Secretary of State
within twenty-four hours IS a wise pro-
vision, and surely there can be no sas-
picion that the ballots are tempered
with by anybody.
AS far as the good roads bill is con-
cerned, we are all in favor of good
roads. | opposed the bill until the
amendment was put in that the money
raised should be equitable divided in
the counties of the State | tell YOU
when we go home To our constituents
they will thank us for that piece of
legislation.
If you oppose all this progressive
legislation you will be buried. next
faH dean that will
resurrected.
Mr.. MILLIkEN: Mr.. President.
perhaps / did not make myself en-
tirely clear / wished to point ont this
danger: il is entirely feasible that
constitutional amendment can be stub
mitted To the people of Maine that
they can accept if il had been made
plain here just what was behind the
whole thing while not understanding
it they may reject it. Suppose this
matter is presented To the people and
not understanding it thoroughly they
do reject it; | suppose the senator
would feel somewhat embarrassed, but
undoubtedly he will present the mat
ter every session, whether or no.
ON the final passage of the resolve
a rising vote was taken.
The vote in favor of the passage of
the resolve was unanimous and the
President announced that the resolve
was finally passed.
Resolve providing for an amendment
to the Constitution relating To the
sale and manufacture of intoxicating
liquors. endorsed House of Repre-
sentatives. March %. 1912. Seventy
one voted for the passage of the re-
solve 60 against The two thirds vote
required not obtained. Resolve failed
OF final passage
Mr. STAPLES: Mr. President, if an
order | move you that the Senate in
sists upon it's former action.
Mr. SANBORN OF Piscataquis: Mr.
President, when this bill was voted
upon. the other day, there We're some
of us that always objected to the bill
that thought it would be as we'll to
pass on to the other branch. and then
after passing there. when it came in
here for two thirds vote il could be
voted down or we could vote to final
ly pass it, as we saw fit. AS of
course it only took a majority vote to
carry it through this branch, and you
Will remember if present that | made
a request to be heard a few moments
before the vote was taken on the final
passage.
l came here, three years ago. from
Piseataquis county. the first Demo-
cratic representative for some 80
years. ] told them when | was NOM
mated, it was unexpected by me, that
| would support the Democratic plat
form, otherwise than that | would
vote for what / thought right regard
less of party politics. And if they
wanted me TO run on those conditions
l would. They said that was all they
asked of me. l came here and tried
to carry out what / had promised. Re-
submission was in the Democratic
platform and l supported it because it
was there and because / thought it
was time that the people should vote
upon it. The Hastings bill came up
and | voted for that. You remember
the Governor vetoed it. / voted to
pass it over the Governors veto. /
voted to remove the Sturgis commits
sioners. | voted to remove the State
liquor agency, for | believed it a State
rum shop of the worst kind. And l
voted for pVprythinP | thouoht-I may