The Republican journal., 1912-02-22
THE SPECIAL SESSION.
What the Newspapers Say Of it.

What the Newspapers Say Of 1t.
Massachusetts. where the legislative
session is pretty much continuous per-
Torrance, is in position to envy Maine,
where the lawmakers are commonly
assembled only three months out of
every two years, hut it can hardly APP
preciate the furry caused by. the coming
special session at Augusta. 1t Is not simply
that it is the first special session called
in Maine since the outbreak OF the civil
war, but it is the prominence OF the per-
ennial liquor issue that occasions all the
activity of preparations IN the various
political camps.
Last fall Maine voted to retain IN the
constitution the prohibitory amendment
of 1884 The campaign was exceedingly
strenuous, and the margin OF the "drys''
was extremely small. Gov. Plalsted APP
pears to feel that if the question is sub
mitted again in some other form, per-
haps allowing local option only in the
large centres, the result will be reversed.
The main object, therefore, of the spe-
cial session is to pass another resubmis
sion resolution-if enough Republican
votes can be secured to give the neces-
sary two-thirds The ''drys" insist that
majority, however small, is still a ma
jority, and that the verdict of last Sep
TENDER settles the matter for the pres
ent generation. Incidentally, the special
session will shuttle the four congressional
districts a bit, and perhaps tinker the
election laws, but, as for many years in
Maine politics, the prohibition problem
is the one big thing.
Maine Democrats have some shrewd
leaders, witness the delay in the special
session until after the March elections
but there is a general feeling that the
party has not made good in office as re-
CARDS either the promises of economy or
he handling of the liquor issue. 1t was
one thing to find fault from the out
side for half century, and quite an
other to take up the responsibility of
running things. Boston Herald.
One man can lead horse to water,
but ten can't make him drink. One man
can call the Legislature together, provid-
ed he be governor, but that is all the
governor can do; the rest is up to the
Legislature.
The most popular thing the 1912 Spe-
cial Session of the Maine Legislature can
do, the most popular both with Demo-
Gratis and Republicans, is to adjourn and
go home the minute they are called to
to tho naonie md ~ nrnt;t to 80 nsan,
has u pp pot called j.; ~ ronons oN - aar
,ena,aI a. do nv. o ne III III an1n " MY any
So sho,n, 1hrnmIrh ~ th vi. puupe VI ~ a,
anv othar wav nor If tho Democrs TO % nf
Ms;ne 40 ind;cateJ NV rn +be a~nr nss "a
v;oms If nononcrats aIl ovar ~ ~ c ssaeo
A. for Tho Pnston snd a. cb;oaoo dan"an5
+ ;s Mono If Roston;s hns;nass a,,d nn
If Cb;caao,s bns;nass ' @'''0 ''o''e
This ',Sonosed conrso world not +hrou,
.nu discrodit m 10 nanooor.t; n' olr NV
hecause Tho Democr.ts as n,h iI Pa ha ~,
hoen onnosed ~ - 49, ~ "n 49, "'v =.
VOL, rpt ,,o.1,o ~ Dnat;s
naners taka hack-ms+or fo, onin a NV"
fhann has favored r Mho+ !; ~, yo Whd ~ "
;s to mark m at loas+ % "a nv " oo4 ~ "
nonor.l ron,+at;on s+ond;na pe ~ ens .ne
priv If tho nonon.rao1, ~ Mn CIV popu-
~ course tho sten u,o,,id ha roh,,e
+brea noon Int thasa thraa 49,
raadv in cond;t;on If lot do I
ono IF tbeno 10 not nos,oooro4 anu
WY. nananoro+ ~ Iii 'i ~ a., never
hanas+ narnonrat;a CIV 1872" WI -; tot uraw an
he Inn which 10 VOW ,ni;lla,,, i ~ W
Acct corrnnt and hety., I'm Y. ~ ue-
nsrty for fho s;nnIe oS;oat D - ~ s
bencft has hoen snd I Nh ho " III ms own
,,,n,.1l -, 49, e''.a WI y: Ind' man
WI aL ~ iong ae ne ieiia'tIs IN !he party,