Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-19

you to be provided with an attorney
to conduct your cases in the lower
court, to relieve you from personal
responsibility in those matters, and
also give you legal advice and assist
ance in the matter of procedure, max
ing papers, etc.
| realize that you need more depu
ties, and / should like to have the
privilege of suggesting the names of
one or two of those whom you may
appoint, providing we find the means
with which to pay them.
You must not forget that we are
both charged with legal responsi Utilities
as agents of the people for the en-
forcement of our laws, and we must
do everything in our power to comply
with the constitution and statutes of
our State, and with the fulfliment of
our oaths of office.
The Constitution specifically declares,
Article 5, Section l, Part l, that the
supreme executive power of the State
is vested in the Governor, and Section
liz of the same Article also provides
that "he shall take care that the laws
are fairly executed" and Section 50
of Chapter % of the Revised Statutes,
as amended by Chapter Al Of the Pub
lie Laws of 1908, and as further amend
ed by Chapter 1871 of the Public Laws
of 1913. especially provides that "sher-
ifs and their deputies and county at
torneYs shall diligently and faithfully
inquire into all violations of law, with
in their respective counties, and in
stitute proceedings in case of violations
or supposed violations of law, and
particularly the law against Illegal
sale of intoxicating liquors, and the
keeping of drinking houses and tippl-
ing shops, gambling houses or places,
and houses of ill-fame, either by
promptly entering a complaint before
a magistrate and executing the war
rants issued thereon. or by furnishing
the county attorney promptly and
without delay, with the names of al
legged offenders. and of the witnesses"
Now, none of our citizens with this
statute upon our books can expect any
sheriff or deputy sheriff to be anything
but most Vigilant in the execution of
the so-called prohibitory law.
The last Legislature which met in
Maine went to the extent of impeach-
ing sheriffs who did not do SO, show
ing that the people through their rep
resentatiVes demand the most vigor-
Gus and faithful enforcement of this
law, and the people will not be patient
long when they feel that our public Of
GERS charged with this duty are not
doing it fully and completely, and any
officer who fails to perform his duty
in this respect, be he governor, sheriff
or county attorney. cannot justify
himself long in such failure. The liquor
interests are crafty and persistent
They will debauch public officers, and
will defame the characters and repu-
tations of those who prosecute them
in every mean and contemplate way,
but when prosecuted. viii find them
selves amendable TO the law like other
They cannot long stand up
against persistent prosecution.
You may have a lawless element in |
your part of the state. but it is no diff !
ferent from what exists in other parts |
unless it is allowed privileges which |
are not allowed elsewhere, but this will |
bring about a condition Of disorder and |
OF law. Now. it is up to /
you as sheriff to see that this condi- /
ion does not come about In Penobscot |
The right minded people win I
be with you and will support your In