Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-22
Wednesday, September %, 1915.
Pooh! What Is An Oath?

], William NJ. Penneil, 90 swear
that ! will support the Constitution OF
the United States and of this State so
long as I shall continue a citizen
thereof. So help me God.
-, Will ;, NJ peI d;sdh DO :, awe ear
best of my ability the duties incum-
bent on me as sheriff according 70 the
Constitution and the laws of the
State. So help me God.
To a delegation of visiting clergy
men who had seen open violation Of
the law and protested to Sheriff Will
liam NJ. Pennell of Cumberland coun-
~, he very frankly voiced his opposi-
ton to prohibitory law. He did not
deny full knowledge Of the outrageous
disregard Of the Law and. manifestly.
accepted full responsibility for pres
ent conditions in Portland.
Sheriff Pennell ceptended that he
Tad right TO use discretionary
power" in the enforcement Of the law.
Sheriff Pennell defended his action
in notorious notification of the law on
the ground that il is better for our
young men to permit open saloons.
where beer and ale may be purchased,
than by a rigid enforcement of the
law, to drive the traffic into hidden
places.
Here is, one public official who has
sworn. so help me Cod 70 enforce
TIE laws ordered by the people. enact
ed by the Legislature and written
into Statutes and constitution, who
orazenly tells 4 delegation of protest
ing citizens that he is nullifying the
laws because of his own convictions;
tina, j, does not matter what the
people believe or order, or he has
sworn to do. HE is making the law
while in Office: HE is using "discre-
tionary poaer": HE knows better
than the people what IS good for their
sons: HE prefers open saloons; HE
knows what HE wants. and the
churches and other lav-abiding, pro-
testing citizens go hang.
That is, in substance. the real mean
ing Of Sheriff Pencils words to Port
land clergymen. The Ministerial
Union Of Portland and vicinity had
investigated and reported. Their re-
port was read in nearly every pulpit
last Sunday and the pastors. in most
nation Of their people.
How many of us remember the bra =
zen violation and loud-voicel hatred
of law BY State, county and town
officials in 1911 and -? 1t is the
ing Of nests at the peoples expense
the people be damned.'
Of course there can be no impeach-
ment Of Sheriff Pennell for bold re-
fusal to act in accord with his oath
OF office, for how can you go about
it, when he is upheld BY his party
that is in power and hates the law?
The churches and all the people.
regardless Of party. may protest in
Portland and in Lewiston, and other
cities. but how long will they remem-
bero
The Democratic faith is pledged in
the short memory of the people. Cum
berland county knew that William NJ.
Pennell had neither love nor respect
for prohibitory law. 1t elected him
through the grace of the opposition's
divided forces. Cumberland county
know what to expect it is getting it.
Sheriff Pennell knows Of the open
saloons but he does not wish to close
them and drive the traffic into hidden
places" where it will not be so we'll
advertised and. quite naturally. the
returns much less
Does Sheriff Pennel deny that the
hidden places" are there in addition
to the open saloons?.
II Sheriff Pennell can suppress the
hidden places" to let the open saloons
run, can he not suppress them all?