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

grade of whiskey and beer they Will get
that they will not let it go? Don't be
worried, for if they get the same kind
they get now they win not be there. Aft
err all this discussion is all superfuous.
Here is a majority of this body TO pass
the bill through this branch, and il t
goes to the people they will tell you what
they think about it.. If they don't want
it they will tell you So What is the
use of standing here and talking for
week upon this mud? l do not see where
we are getting ahead any. If we can
make any political thunder | will stay
with you, for we need it in our valley.
W by not bring this to a vote and pass it
or not pass it and then take up some
thing else? / think the time has come
when we should get into action.
Mr.. GoWELL of York: Mr.. Chair
man:
The question under discussion is not
a new one to the people of the State
of Maine. The so-called rum question
has always been a popular one with
the Democratic party, and there is no
reason why it should not be fav-
orite topic with our Democratic friends.
because it is on account of rum and
issues incident to the liquor traffic
that has made the Democratic party
the dominant party in this State. The
Republican and Democratic parties
have differed somewhat in regard to
some phases of the Prohibitory law.
but there is one thing upon which we
can all agree, and that is that this
liquor question always causes trouble.
it has brought our party to defeat
and it don't require much of a political,
prophet at the present time to foresee
that it will cause the downfall of the
Democratic party in the near future.
l am not temperance crank or even
claim to be total abstainer on all oc-
casions but / have tried TO represent
the best interests of my constituency
since l have been a member of this
body, and / believe | would be untrue
to the people | represent if / did not
publicly refute any amendment to our
Constitution that would tend to estab-
fish the saloon within our State with
all the evil influences perta lining there
to.
The so-called resubmission amend
ment has been before the Maine Leg
islature for the past II years, it was
introduced by Senator Staples of Knox
county in the Legislature of 1899 and
he has faithfully promulgated the doe
trine at each session since that time
until the present Legislature at it's
regular session passed the resolve sub
uniting the amendment to the legal
voters of our State in September of
the present year. At that time it was
urged by both parties to pass the re-
solve to get the liquor question out of
politics. The special election was held
and constitutional prohibition re-af-
firmed, and now in less than six
months from the time the vote was
declared the Governor in his wisdom
has deemed it necessary to convene
the Legislature in extraordinary ses-
sion for a further expression from the
people in regard to regulation of the
liquor traffic. 1t was urged in the cam
pafgn just closed by many Democratic
lawyers that the subject matter of the
so-called prehibitory amendment was
not properly a constitutional question.
and now since the people have voted
not to repeal the amendment, these
same gentlemen seek to remedy the
defect by proposing an amendment to
the amendment that they say is not
properly in the Constitution of our
State
If it is not properly constitutional
question: why not submit its repeal
again to the people along the same
lines,
The people of the State have voted
TO fatifX the prohibitory law, and al
though the majority in favor of the
law might be small, who can say it
was not the expression of the people
of our State. whose interests we are
here to serve.
The truth is. gentlemen. because it
was not settled according to the Demo-
cratic mind they call a special session.
because a majority of the voters in
the cities voted to repeal the law ac-
cording to the tabulated returns.
The Democrats have elected more
than half of the sheriffs in the State
on the proposition that the law was
not properly enforced, and now they
parade up ana down the State saving
that prohibition is d failure and cannot
be enforced
Rum ana hypocrisy have been their
watch words, probably both parties
contain enough of each but I can re-
member that three years ago the
Denocrts nominated n sheriff in York
county that stood for enforcement and
a congressman that represented multi
hcation in Cumberland county and
supported both on the same ticket and
at the same election. This comes pret
ty near TO riding two horses at the
same time.
The people of York county have re-
affirmed prohibition time and time
again, and | am opposed to this re-
solve because it does not represent the
best interests of the constituency of
my county. - =
Mr.. MlLLIKEN; Mr.. Chairman. is
the entire debate on the part of the
majority party to be in the hands of
the senator from Waldo?
Mr.. STAPLES: | think so.
The CHAIRMAN: / will state that
the Chair has no Information upon
that subject whatever.
Mr.. MlLLIKEN: Mr. Chairman. the
important thing about what I tried to
say, this morning, and the important
question | left with the senator to an