The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-04-09
The Prohibition Issue.
How the Republican, Democratic and Pro-
9ressive Parties Stand on the Question.

gresSiVe Parties Stand on the Question.
AUGUSTA, April 6. 1914. That the forces
opposed to constitutional prohibition in Maine
are as ready to use the machinery of one party
as another to attain their ends has been evil
denced many times in the last sixty years
Within the memory of men now living this
took the form of notification by the officials
in power. whether Republicans or Democrats.
Later strict enforcement was demanded by
voters in one or two counties. The spirit
spread until the Republicans in Office, through
acts of officials and platform declarations,
came to stand for absolute enforcement of the
prohibitory law far enforcement is
humanity possible. The Democratic party
struction of the law and came to stand for
open notification through the acts of its off
Gals, except in isolated instances. The third
party, designating itself as the Progressive
party, in convention this year met this issue
face to face, and straddled. 1t adopted plat
form in which one plank declared for enforce
ment of the law as long as it remained on the
statute books and another plank declared for
machinery necessary for the destruction Of
that law.
The first plank which declares for the en-
forcement of the law may differ in language
from the stand Of the Republican party and
acts of Republican officers during the past two
years. but does not differ from it in spirit ex
cept to omit declaration of faith in proaibi-
ton itself. The second plank declares for the
extension OF the initiative provision of the
initiative and referendum amendment to the
constitution SO that constitutional amendments
may originate from the people by the petition
OF $4,000 electors. When the initiative and
referendum was presented in the legislature OF
1867 the Republican party stood for the protec-
ton of the prohibitory amendment and favored
an initiative and referendum applying solely to
statute law. The Democratic party stood for
and advocated an initiative just such as the Pro-
gressive party now declares for. The Demo-
ocratic party took this stand solely for the
purpose Of opening an avenue through which
constitutional prohibition might be attacked,
and the opponents to prohibition in the Pro-
gressive party have led that party to take
exactly the same stand.
The total vote for Governor in Maine
for 1912 was 14l,9e5 If the Progressive
plank for constitutional initiative became law
one voter in every eleven could force re-sub-
mission on the other ten every two years, i. 9.
8 per cent of the vote could force re-submis-
sion every two years j. e. somewhat less than
two thirds of the Democratic vote cast for
the cities this spring could force REL ubmis-
sion every two years. With this mighty
weapon enemies to good government, good
citizenship and good morals could and would
cudgel the prohibitory amendment to the con-
stitution year after year until finally 1t would
be battered down and the great victory for
which these enemies of true progressivism
have fought in season and out for more than
half century would be accomplished. 1t can
only be accomplished in that way, for an oc-
casional assault can always be met through the
public spirit of Names good citizenship. but
persistent assault, such as is proposed. f.
nanced as it would be by business in which
the financial profits are very definite and very
large, would eventually find the good citizen
ship unprepared and without funds.
The Democratic Convention in Portland
adopted platform declaring in plain terms
the hostility Of that party to prohibition and
definitely favoring local option or some other
form of concession to the liquor interests.
With that form of declaration friends to pro-
hibition know how to deal. The Progressive
straddle can be dealt with only in the same
manner, l. e. by voting the straight Republican
ticket The Republican ticket stands for
prohibition and its enforcement everywhere
;oL Gro for tIxo1
ton of prohibition as soon as possible and the
notification of the law until sucIs time as it is
possible to destroy it. The Progressive party
stands for lip service to the law and its assas-
sination through the medium of constitutional
initiative and is disgraceful attempt to fool
the neon1e.