Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-03-21

Now, gentlemen, we are facing this
floating factor in politics, and 1t is Il
dangerous thing for US to ignore thlS
factor. These people who determine
what the result shall be are not to be
dealt with insincerely. We must have
duced into our statute provided W.
have an honest enforcement Of the law.
yesterday in the Senate the honorable
senator from
|. The SPEAKER: The Chair must rule
that the gentleman cannot make refer
ence to any action taken in the other
body.
Mr.. COCHRANE: l apologize to the
Chair and to this body Am ] at lib
erty to use the plea that he made at
that time and to answer the debate:
The SPEAKER: The Chair would
rule that the gentleman is if he makes
it his own.
Mr.. COCHRAEE: 1t has been stated
if l can find the debate Of yesterday
Does anyone know on what page that
debate iso / cannot recall the words
used at that time. and therefore | shall
not be able to speak further on the
question. If anyone can find it. ! woul'
thank him for giving me the page.
Mr.. O'LEARY of Bangor: II IS on
page ).
Mr.. COCHRAEE: The gentleman
stated that this State has for years
and years laid down principle that
the question of whether or not any
liquor is Intoxicating is matter Of
fact for Jury to determine. and when
they say that that is a matter Of fact
for a jury TO determine they have
fixed the law better than any way We
can fix it by the passage of a statute
which enacts something which is not
there 7 submit. gentleman. that If We
leave this matter to jury to determ ne
that jury must pass Judgment on every
specific case: and I submit to you that
if jury should pass judgment upon
eve~y Spe life case it might not be able
to exercise it's functions as jury.
1t was also stated in this debate thai
"thc state of Maine has in practice
and by law for the last 50 or 60 years
been a prohibtory State. and We do
not need anybody who is just beginning
and who has not yet passed any rules
and regulations in regard to what is
intoxicating and what is not to tell us
in this State just what portion of al
cohol in a certain liquor makes it in
toxicating." I agree with the honor
able gentleman that this State did
formulate the first prohibitory law ana
it TOOK the initiative in this matter:
but other states have gone far ahead
of it. We are the only State that today
has three per cent. law in its statute
A certain state-I cannot recall which
one-within three or four days has re-
fused to consider even one-half Of one
per cent. 1t absolutely refuses to have
any liquor sold within its borders that
contains any percentage whatever of al
cohol.
Now, gentlemen. we not only in the
State of Maine gave prohibition birth.
but in America we gave democracy
birth; and 7 want to ask you if You
would consider for moment adhering
to the principles that obtained in the
days of Washington. Hancock and
Hamilton? Would you consider stand
ing stiE on that point? Suppos ns a
few months ago. when We were called
upon TO defend our democracy. We had
nut on the knee breecheS and the swa1-
1owtail coat and the cooked hat Of Rev
olutionary times. and shoudered our
flintlockS and gone out To whip the
Germans What would have happened?
Other countries have gone ahead OF US.
and we have had to meet them. and
We must keep ahead of them. Other
states have gone ahead of US, gentle
men. since We formulated this prohlbi
tory law, and VIC have got to keep up
with the trend of civilization; and | do
not believe there is man i'll this body
who would tolerate for one moment the
thought of having that legend that for
well-nigh Il hundred years has appear
Cd on our escutcheon changed from II
Lead to IL slump" Now submit this
matter to you. gentlemen. l believe it
is our duty. not only TO ourselves but
to our constituents. to keep up the ira
ditions of the old State of Maine.
Mr.. ROUNDS Of Portland Mr.
Speaker. as understand It the courts
have decided that anything less than
three per cent is not intoxicating
Mr.. COCHRANE: | rise to a
question Of privilege. I am greatly
interested in what the gentleman
says and he will have to speak
louder.
Mr.. ROUNDS: II you want to
hear me you will have to come over
here
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from Portland, MIR. Rounds, is out Of
order.
Mr. ROUNDS: The gentleman who
has just spoken (Mr. Cochrane) had
some nice coffee. I understand, last
night. Did he know that when he
got the sugar in that coffee he was
drinking more than one-half Of one
per cent alcohol and as beverage?
That is what you are up against it.
gentlemen. with this law. Now the