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


doue, but could not do il as well as he.
Last fan tho Democratic party got
into Il state of coma. Il reminded me
of the fellow they had got ready 10
bury. Just as they were placing him
IN the casket he showed symptoms cf
life. He got up. and they said, We
+ thought YOU were dead" He said, Il
knew better" How did YOU know you
were not dead" He said, Il was
i hungry and SO kHew / wasn't in heav-
cn. aud my feet were cold and | knew
/ I wasn't IN he'll" The PARTY had cold
! feet, there is no doubt about that and
had jast left the one important issue
before US to the hands of the enemy
Had we put speakers throughout the
state and met their speakers, this
State would have cast 10000 more
votes for the amendment. How do
know it? The city of Belfast, three
days before the election showed that
ii was going Ne went to the
! Opera house, and delivered the only
rum speech.
1t was said. lis it possible that cur
mayor is going te try to destroy our
homes?' | said. No. you are on the
wrong track" The next night they
+ held a meeting in the opera house and
my friend, who was ia refutc my argu-
ment, told that audience that the may
or had presented the subject fairly
Then he proceeded 10 tell about the
terrible affects OF rum, and | could
+ have said amen tie every word he
said. | know it is one of the greatest
curses that ever came on any COM
munitY l know of the broken hearts,
the wrecked homes, and the young men
who have gone down to the demons
grave. And because | know these
things is the reason why | stand here,
today and say it is time for the sover-
eign state OF Maine to take hold of
this hydra-headed monster. and con-
8. troll it
/ say it is time for the people TO rule
t themselves. l believe, as the husband
and wife is the head of the family, so
each community is, and should be the
judge of how il shall handle things
pertaining to its own mutual interest.
l believe that every town should haze
the privilege of saying just what il
will have to serve it's interests best.
I do not stand here today. to vote
for local option law, nor would vote
for any Law To be binding upon the
people of Maine unless they have the
power to say whether they will accept
it or not. / believe in the initiative
and referendum | believe the people
of this State are we'll qualified to judge
of what they want | believe that [
would vote TO have amy question sub
mitted to the people that might ap-
pear reasonable and then let them be
the judges as Ia what they will do.
do not believe that even this august
body assembled consisting of repre-
sentative citizens gathered from the
different parts of our State. are the
people. ] do believe the voice of the
people is the voice of God but | do not
believe the voice of the Legislature is
] the voice OF God. DO you?
Let the people decide. This amend
ment which is here submitted | believe
places this matter wholly within the
hands of the people. l should have no
hesitation in going on the stump next
fall and challenging any opponent t.
show why the people should not have
the privilege Of governing themselves,
and [ cannot for a moment see how,
any citizen nf this State can stand up
and say that the people are not to be
trusted; that he has been appointed
guardian for the people in his section,
and that it is not safe to let them vote
upon it. Ii I did that. l should expect
to get a reception when / got home.
They would undoubtedly say. You got
swelled head in Augusta. You for
got that We know what we want We
will let you stay at home after this"
therefore, in behalf of this act or
amendment. move that it be adopted
by yea and nay vote (Applause.0
Mr.. MILLIKEN, of Aroostook: l
would like to ask the Chair TO rule
whether the question before the com
mittee is the amendment offered by
the senator this morning. or the whole
i proposition contained in the bill?
The CHAIR If the Chair under
stands the proposition correctly the
amendment was Incorporated in the
bill.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: That is
correct Mr.. Chairman. that the
amendment has become part of the
original bill. the same as il it was in
a new draft
Mr.. MILLIKEN: think the amend
ment has never been adopted. but | do
not care about that. No one has any
objection to the majority party max
ing any amendment they see fit
Mr.. STAPLES: / will say to the
senator that the amendment was
adopted, rs I understand it,
Mr.. MIILIkEN: assume Air.
Chairman. that no yea and nay vote
can be had in committee of the whole
This matter must be reported, as |
suggested
; The CHAIR; Do you mean that a
yea and nay vote cannot be taken on
any subject
Mr.. MILLIKEN: ] do not wish to
make any suggestion TO the Chair
was only quoting from Reeds rules.
Mr.. Chairman, as | pointed out a
few moments ago, the members of the
minority party find themselves in a
peculiar situation. so far as any dis
cussiou on Che merits of this entire
proposition is concerned. We are ask
ed To take up and discuss. as | un-
derstand il, Hnd finally dispose of, this
morning, so far as discussion may be
concerned, the main question for
which this Legislature was called.
This bill was brought in, yesterday.