Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-13

/ a "a a. ooSSo oPOH bVU0 tos1c- \ ne
fact is, when we speak Of enforcement
we can properly mean nothing except
the enforcement of the penalties; yet
We frequently refer to 1t crudely. both
!. those of us who favor tho nth amend
ment and those who condemn II, ZEN
forcement of the prohibitory law"
Enforcement in relation to prohibit
ton. intends the arrest, conviction and
penalizing of all perBons guilty pf
sale; 1t cannot mean the absolute ex-
clusion Of all alcoholic liquors. ard the
absolute hating OF all sales of such.
Proper conduct on the part of sheriffs
and courts brings about the penaiizing
of all persons guilty Of sale and this
is enforcement; careless conduct on the
part of sheriffs and indifference in
guilty of criminal selling and this is
reinforcement
When a sheriff or judge is guilty of
violating his oath OF office. removal
may be made through impeachment
proceedings; sheriffs and judges are
important officers of our government
and it would be unsafe to make pro-
visions in the law for the summary
removal of important officers. Only
through impeachment proceedings may
they be removed.
Thus it happens that when a sheriff
is lax in his enforcement of the pen
alties in relation to the Prohibitory
Law, he can be removed only through
Impeachment proceedings In the Legis-
lature. The governor is charged espec-
tally with the duty of keeping himself
Informed on the subject of enforce
ment and attending to its observance
influence. The governor has no more
actual authority over sheriff than
the most obscure citizen OF the State.
When Legislature is in session, the
governor can ask for impeachment, but
he has no other recourse in cases of
lax enforcement.
Governor Haines has made his atti-
tude toward enforcement as definite
as the midday sun, and those who
cannot see where the governor stands
must indeed be blind. The penalties
for illegal selling are being enforced
better today than ever before in tn.
history OF the fifth amendment. and
Governor Haines has stated emphati-
cally that when the Legislature again
eenvenes he will present for impeach-
ment any sheriff or sheriffs who are
not keeping their oath of office. He
can do no more than this, except to
use the influence his office gives him to
arouse sentiment against notification
and this he has done since his cleo
ton In a notable degree.
Logically. what more can be said In
relation to enforcement and Prohibi-
ton? Those who hate the fifth amend
ment and the laws that result from 1t
may resort to heckling, dissemblance.
and fallacy in their futile efforts to
discredit Governor Haines and the Re-
publican party which elected him to
serve as governor; but intelligent men
experienced in the noble art of think
exists and give no credence to the
boot-lickers of the rum trust, who
stand ready to deliver the govern
ment of Maine to 1t in consideration of
campaign assistance and financial en-
enlargement in unstinted measure.
During the six years from 1907 to
1912, inclusive, there were 22.547 ar
rests for drunkenness in Maine, ac-
cording to the report of Chairman
Frank HI. Hargraves of the board OF
inspectors of State prisons and jails.
The annual average for this period
was 1858 arrests. In 1918 there were
2426 arrests for drunkenness in Maine.
The number of arrests yearly was re-
duced in 1913. IS per cent over previous
years. This Is the official record;
above you have the facts of the fifth
amendment and the relation Of COVER
nor and sheriff to 1t. You know what
to expect If Democrat Is elected gov
ernor: you do not know what to ex-
pect If the impossible occurs and
Progressive is elected governor; you
know not only what you may expect
but actually what you will see If
william T. Haines Is elected governor
the contamination of the 30-year
fight for a dry state into peaceful
realization.
There are alcoholic liquors sold in
Maine today. Why deny it? We have
law against murder in Maine; muir
ders are occasionally committed.
though not so often as would be the
case if Maine were a license State. We
do not deny the murders; we do not
denv the Illegal sale of alcoholic Ii