Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-23
ling for Aroostook county as for his


ling for Aroostook county as for his
own county.
There is an honest difference of opin-
ion In these matters" continued Speaker
Mercy. "It has been charged that there
was nothing in the vote of last Septern-
Der to warrant again submitting this
matter. The cities voted strongly in the
negative and the towns voted as strong
~ in the affirmative. No other inference
can be drawn from that vote than that
the cities want license and that tho
towns want prohibition.
1.-The bill under discussion provides a
safeguard for the cities and the towns.
The percentage must be 81 in the towns.
They must go to the Legislature and the
Legislature may grant it, If they think
it proper and then it must go to the
towns and the people must vote whether
they will have it or not. The cities are
given local option. 2sso1
I'VE live in country of n states, only
six of witch have a. pruh3bitory law.
Some that havaf tried it for years have
abandoned it. it becalisB of the con-
ditionsr it brought into existence that led
| With other people?
L
State and keep intoxicating liquor out
of it, why that would be the best way,
but the highest court in the lands tfie
| supreme court of the United states.
and later the supreme court of our
/ own State, admits to interstate COM
merce the Intoxicating liquors from
i other states and they cannot be dis
| turbed until delivered to the consignee.
"At the time the Sturgis law was In
| force, the liquors could be seized at
| the station and il was in the case of
| State versus the Tarbox Express Co.
| that the courts of Maine reversed
| their own decision and the officers had
! to let the liquors come in and be de-
/ livered. Now liquors can come in.
| They cannot be kept out. They have
| as much right to come in as -four or
/ grain, the same legal right to be here.
Now with that condition existing,
you can't get enforcement by trying
| to force people with distasteful law.
| The people had am eleetfQf1,e last fall,
| and they voted in. the negative. To
meet the results of that election this
| bill was introduced. 1t is a question of
| VITA it's best to do
| when the President of the United
| States. who belongs to the party OF my
| distinguished brother, says 1t is useless
| to attempt to enforce a law which Is
| not backed by public sentiment; when
| the sentiment in the large centerss IS
] against it, when juries fail to convict
| in liquor cases on evidence that would
convict for murder; this question must Dc
dealt with in a way to throw the en-
| foreement on the people who will moro
readily obey, on officers who can ems
| force and on juries that will convict.
There is no civilized country on the
| face of the globe where the liquor traffic
| is not regulated. trust that in this dis
cussion fair treatment will prevail and
| that charges will not be made against
men high in official life who are honest
men and prominent in the affairs of this
| State. / wish that the gentleman had
| left unsaid those words that strike at
| the honor of these men. ask every
man, regardless of his political affilia-
| ton, to bring to this question high
| minded purpose of deciding what is best
| in the handling of this question. -4t
Rep. Clearwater of Hallowell, in a
| brief statement. said he should vote
| for the measure because he believed il
| to be right and because majority fof
the voters of his city favor it. He
| further stated that he did not attend
the Republican caucus and did not
| feel bound by it.
Rep. Dutton of China, a Democrat.
| said that he proposed to vote against
| the matter because the voters he rep
/ resents are against it
| On motion of Rep Newbert, the
committee of the whole voted to re-
port the bill, ought TO pass. go to So.
| The bill was reported to the House,
| given its first two readings and pass
go be engrossed and the House voted
to take a final vote on the question,
| Saturday morning.
The House adjourned at II o'clock
until o'clock, Saturday morning.