Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-25
TRACY'S LETTER
THAT DISTURBED
THE GOVERNOR

A subscriber asks: What is the Gov
ernor driving at?''
That is because we published the Gov
errors letter by request without having
published the letter of Mr.. n. B. Tracy
of Auburn. asking pertinent questions of
His Excellency. Following is Mr.. Tracy's
letter to the Governor:
To Editors of the Lewiston journal:
Allow me to address an open letter
through the medium OF your valuable
paper to Governor Curtis.
Auburn. Me. Sept; Is. 1915:
His Go,. Exeell a4 S,,s Oakley c. Curtis
Hon. Sir-I see by the public press that
you have made several statements that
you were in favor of enforcing the law
against the manufacture and sale or IN
toXicating liquors.
You are quoted as saying you wished to
enforce these laws as you had taken
your oath of Office to enforce all the con.
stitutional laws. as the constitution OF
the State made it the duty of the Gov
ernor to see that all laws were properly
enforced. but that the Legislature had
made no provision whereby you could
enforce the law.
on that point. There are no less than
three ways open for you to proceed to
fulfill your oath. First, under a law
passed by the seventy-second session OF
tne Legislature IN l@5, SIiptCl II, <Ah
act providing for penalties for non-fcas-
ance of duty by sheriffs. deputy she:iffs
and county attorney. BE 1t enacted, etc.
Section sixty nine of Cha pier tWenty-nine
of the Revised Statutes is hereby amend
ed by inserting in the ninth line, the
words: Any sheriff, deputy sheriff or
county attorney. who shall wilfully. or
corruptly refuse or neglect 70 perform
any Of the duties required by this section
shall be punished by fine not exceeding
thnuS9nd dollars DN IMPRISONMENT
not to exceed over one year Now. your
EXcellency. what more, law 40 you need
If you mean business and not political
clap trap" you can order your attorney
general to proceed at once against all
the sheriffs and county attorneys who
are wilfuly neglecting their duty and
have them either fined or imprisoned.
Second: You have me power TO can
proceed in an impeachment court to kick
these non-enforcement sheriffs out. now
do not resort to the old gag OF too much
expense. it won't go down. Why' man,
made by the people, for their own pro-
lection? Did it not cost tax payers some
thing to make these laws? snail TINS ex-
pense go for nothing? snail we let
will cost money to enforce these laws?
What does s25 900 or even $4,000 amount
to beside the hundreds OF thousands now
being sGuandered in these dens or inlqlty,
ing care of the DRINKS, of the insane and
the pauperism made by rum? Mr.. Gov
ernor, these laws were made to be en-
forced at any cost. If not what is the
use of any laws?
| hope you will see your way 10 con-
slider this proposition.
Third In case of a conspiracy or re-
bellion and violation of the constitution
of the State you. Sir. as commander IN
chief of all the militia forces in the State
have absolute power to call out every
man of the militia if needed to put down
such a conspiracy, You can order the
arrest of any person connected with re-
bellion against the constitutional laws
try them under a court-martial, no mat
ter what offices in civil government they
may hold under the State law. You can
declare martial law; place guard over
every rum hole in the State; seize ana
destroy all liquors found in illegal pos
session. This third method would be ex-
pensive too But what of that. The laws
We're made to be respected and enforced
no matter what the cost. ana as you say
i i"w h' Now an4 Eon going to- doa ito
You're fespectfully,,