Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-01
MIR. Clark "Proud of HIS Record"
Gardiner. Maina. Aug z

rs.. gardiner, Maine, Aug, II.
EDITOR of kennebee Journal:
In your editorials of teday's issue of
the Journal under the heading of
TENSE AND PRETENsE" you say:
No further comment is necessary on
the remarks of l., Fl. Clarke of West
Gardner at City hall, Augusta, Tues
gay evening than to state that this
man VINO would do 80 much to en-
force the prohibitory law if elected
Sheriff fought vigorously against the
Dunnack resolution In the Progress
March"
AS an enforcement candidate for
sherlH IN Kennebec county | make no
apology whatever for the stand on the
Dunnack resolution, so called. which I
TOOK at the Bangor convention. I stood
then and | now stand on the prohibition
ana enforcement plank of the Progress
slve party adopted at that convention. I
am not ashamed of that plank in our
platform and lest the people of Kennebec
county be misled by the frequent mis-
statements made about that part of our
party platform | ask you herewith to
print II. 1t is as follows:
Believing that no Statewide law
was ever enacted TO be respected in
one county and not in another and
Iecognlzing the fact that the prohibit
tory law has been more hagrantly
nullifed than any other, we demand
It's strict and impartial enforcement.
me people of Maine have twice yot-
ed this law into their constitution by
the direct method, principal of gov
eminent on which the Progressive
party was founded. Reaftirming it's
belief in the rule of the people, the
progressive party of Maine pledges
Its candidates for Office to a State
wide enforcement of the prohibitory
law. We advocate the submission of
the question of national prohibition
TO the people Of every State in the
If there is not room enough on that
plank for an enforcement sheriff to take
his stand / do not know the straightfor-
ward meaning of the English language
Inc fact is that plank was put in not for
PRETENSE but for business and the
sheriff In any county in the State on that
plank must do business or betray his
party
Now since you by inference at least
in false light let me, please, state my
reasons for my opposition to the Dun
mack resolution
The Dunnack resolution declared for
judgment. Federal prohibition never
could satisfy the nation except as a
constitutional amendment. We here in
Maine know that when we had statutory
prohibition the question hanging on a
constant majority vote kept the legisla-
ture in constant strife over this one is
sue and left room for nothing else by
way of legislation.
That is why Maine put prohibition in
the constitution,
II therefore we have Federal prohibi-
ton IL must be constitutional law If 1t
amounts to anything,
II we seek Federal constitutional pro-
htbition II Is easy to see that we must
have a Congress largely in favor of 1t,
indeed two-thirds Then added to this
there must be the requisite number of
states which must ratify the action of
Congress. Thus 1T is easily seen how
overwhelmingly the whole nation must
at that time stand for prohibition. In
order to ever bring this to pass those
states which have already adopted state
prohibition must have clearly shown
that they are able to enforce the pro-
hibitory law in their own states. If they
are not able to do this they will have
little or no influence in the great ma
tional battle for national prohibition.
Therefore, II seemed to me at the Ban
gor convention that before we say too
much about Federal prohibition we had
better work for time in our own State
enforcing our own prohibitory law
Maine can never exait herself before the
nation more In Federal prohibition than
to elect sheriffs In our several counties
which will give life, force and effect to
our own law. believe personally in
state and Federal prohibition but I be-
lieve in the faithful enforcement of our
own State prohibitory law before we go
into national politics on the subject.
Yours truly,
L. H. CLARKE.