Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-24
Friday, September a., 1915.
The Only Way.


Governor, when the people want any
thing done, II we accept the Curtis
measure from his own summing up!
We anticipate that n. B. Tracy Of Au-
burn. will come back" like a thou
sand Of brick. He should have no
difficulty for the Governors setting
forth of things in the way of official
duty answers itself.
One might almost think from the
costliness of doing things, in these
days Of high cost Of living, that
Governors salary were useless waste
more arrests of criminals, because it
is expensive to board them and to
give them trial. The people have
made the laws to look at and to talk
about, NOT to enforce.
The Governor quotes the law: HE
tthe Governor) shall take care that
the law be faithfully executed He
is in doubt, so he declares. as to what
this really means
We are surprised. From careful
observance We had thought the Gov
ernor and the Democratic party had
steel-rimmed convictions on that exact
point. Execute means to put to
death in conformity to a legal SEN
tence. Hanging was the last capital
punishment in Maine. We had under
stood that the Governors sentiments
we're prohibition be hanged"
In spite Of his professed misgivings.
we still think that the whole tenor Of
his letter to Mr.. Tracy confirms our
understanding Of the case. Faithfully
he is taking care" that prohibitory
law be executed"
The Governor intimates that he has
no influence with the sheriffs and other
of1cials appointed by his party or
elected by the people to enforce the
law-he is ordered only to execute
He is executing. If he has no influ-
ence with sheriffs. county attorneys,
Democratic mayors. Democratic Coun-
Gil or Legislature. pray with whom
does he have influence to so success
fully execute" prohibitory law?
The Governor says:
"Supposing the Governor orders the
officials to enforce the law and they do
not do SO. what can he do about 1t. ex-
cept to call the legislature together and
even then the legislature might be so
might not be upheld. and then If the
legislature should address the Governor
for removal, he could not do this without
the consent of the Council?'
Mr.. Tracy will naturally ask if the
Governor has ever ordered anybody
to enforce the prohibitory law: If he
has ever urged single official to en-
force that law; il he has ever even
suggested to these enforcement off,
Gals that it might be we'll to have the
peoples laws enforced as we'll as pos
sible while they remain in the Stat
utes.
The Governor manifestly hates to
be disobeyed; he could not bring him.
self to order" law enforced with
any possibility that he would be de-
fed, as Governor Haines was defied
So he executes" the law-has it
hanged.
Over in Lewiston the mayor judge
says he has not the tools with which
to halt the deviltry boldly defiant
there. He says his police officers have
other things to do than protect the
public and the name Of the city. The
police officers say they have no orders
to interfere with saloon cussedness.
The mayor Judge points to the sheriff:
the sheriff Is away on an important"
mission-probobly investigating the
suffering from lack of vodka in ST.
IBERIA.
The Governor says he has no funds
that he can use for the enforcement
Of prohibitory law. Now, according
W Tue 0OteTnOFS OWN HSuElnS, re-
Gently. deficit is sometimes an asset;
then why not cash that $4,000 deficit?
We are delighted with the Cover
nor's caution. 1t is only equalled by
"watchful waiting We would not
have the Governor go to Jail for vio-
lations of one law while trying to
enforce another. Think how it would
sound in booze bound Boston! Nor
would we have him expend q million
and half from his own pocket. We
would recommend instead, that he
give a million and half toward pre-
paredness."
After all, when a man doesn't want
to do thing how many obstacles he
can see in the way!
We agree with the Governor-he
cannot enforce the prohibitory law.
We have noted for years that tho
Democratic party is wholly incompe-
tent to enforce moral laws. 1t never
has; 1t never will.
We take Governor Curtis, and Sher-
III Pennell, and Sheriff Davis and