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

It's control TO where it will be. handled
by the people.
Mr. MILLIKEN. Mr. Chairman.
might I ask the senator from Somer-
set question: I wish he would tell
me II IN his opinion the local option
proposition would be better for SOM
efSet county than the present enforce
ment of the prohbitory law by the
present sheriff. who, l agree with him.
is q splendid nflIcer2
Mr. OSBORN: Mr. Chairman. do
not believe that the present rrohibi-
tory law in Somerset county would be
changed one atom by the passing of
TINS proposition. / believe it leaves
Somerset county absolutely to work
out It's own propositions. 1 do not be-
lleNe there is q town in Somerset
county that would hayeaa licensesff
Mr. FULTON of Sagadahet.s Mr..
Chairman this discussion it seems TO
me is getting rather tiresome, to the
committee. l wish to say in behalf of
my people in Sagadahoc that we are
not afraid to trnst the people. We
have been crying for the referendum.
and We have 1t. Let every question go
ii.
Mr.. MILLIKEN: Mr.. Chairman.
may | ask the senator from Sagada-
hoe q question? / wish the senator
would point out to me the difference
IN the question now proposed to the
people and the question voted on in
September. 1911?
Mr.. STAPLES: Mr. Chairman.
int 70
this subject. but | do want to answer
lhe question that the senator last
asked.
There is great difference between
what the platform was in 1910, or
what resubmission was in 1911, this
last September That was simply re-
SUBMISSION of the constitutional
amendment to the people, This matter.
today, II you will take the pains to
read 1t, is local option. fair and
square for the cities, but the country
towns OF this State 1t leaves il right
with the people
Let me say, furthermore, in the
platform of 1910, the issue of the DEM
ecratc party was not made a rum
Issue, II was made upon the extrav
aganee of the Republican party and
that IS what turned the country over.
anu 1t VIII keep there as long as Gov
error Flaisted has control of the bus
incss of the State.
/ think ii comes with i'll grace for
anyhoGy to attack the Democratic
party With the history of the last 10
months in this State; when YOU loaded
upon the Democratic party a burden
of million dollar debt that YOU ere
ated and turned over to us to pay. and
when you say that we have brought
this session of the Legislature here for.
the sole purpose Of this issue, YOU ara
greatly mistaken. Governor Plaisted
and his councillors have brought this
Legislature here, today. because the
people demanded it by their voices
from all the cities and towns. almost
throughout the State of Maine. And
Ii is different from what it was at the.
last vote; 1t is a different proposition.
Nothing was said then about local OBJ
ton or high license. / say to you now
the Democratic party believes in To-
cal option. They have said so by this
Dill, and by the amendment TO that
Dill 1t is surrounded by all the safe
guards that the human mind can
create. 1t leaves it entirely with the
people. Are you afraid of the people?
You carried it. by a small vote upon
resubmissien by Misrepresentation.
There is no question about that.
/ am in favor of local option because
believe that is the best way 10 con-
troll it. You tried to control it for 80
years and you have a line of drunk
ards throughout the State of Maine
and temperance has not been benefit
ed. Let us try local option and if it
does not work We'll We win go back to
prohibition.
Mr.. MILLIKEN Mr.. Chairman, may
l ask the senator from Knox if the
people decided anything in September.
1911, and if so. what?
] understood the senator to say:
Let the people decide it," and 1 I'M
derstand his explanation in response
To my former question is, in effect,
that the proposition voted on in Sep
temher, 1871, was whether or not pro-