Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-09
Orders Of the Day

/ L HlteQ otdleS pToUlDltHlS tHe iIidHu-
facture. sale or transportation Of in
toxicating liquors within. the impor-
tation thereof into, or the exporta-
ton thereof from the United States
and all territory subject to the juris-
diction thereof was taken from the
table.
Mr.. BARNES of Houlton: Mr.
Speaker. I move that the resolve be
adopted in concurrence with the Sen
ate.
Mr. BERRY Of Waterville: Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen of the House:
Following the usual custom, this re-
solve has been presented. and ! wish
to state the position of the minority
party at this time, with your per-
mission. We have caucused and
! there has been free discussion on the
merits Of this resolve. The minority
party wishes to state at this time that
it has not pledged its members to
anything but their own personal
beliefs-their own personal support.
It does, believe. however, and it is
the concensus of opinion that there
should be an amendment offered to
this resolve: and I yield at this time,
with your consent, to the gentleman
from Bangor, Mr.. Reed.
Mr. REED of Bangor: Mr. Speaker.
+ desire to present Amendment A to
the pending resolve, and l ask that
It he read by the Chair, and | move
its adoption.
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from Bangor. Mr.. Reed. presents
House Amendment A. to the resolve
| which has just been taken from the
| table that an advisory referendum OF
the following tenor be submitted to
the qualified electors of the State at
q special election to be held in and
for said State on the first Monday of
June. 1919. said election to be called
i in the manner provided by law for the
calling of special elections
QUESTION:: Shall the Legislature
vote to ratify the amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States
transportation of intoxicating liquors
within, the importation thereof into.
CT the expectation thereof from, the
United States, and all territory sub
ject to the Jurisdiction thereof.
The gentleman from Bangor, Mr.
Reed, moves that this amendment be
adopted. All those who are in favor Of
its adoption will say aye.
Mr.. BEAN Of Minot: Mr. Speaker,
| rise to inquire if this matter would
be Gcbatable at this time.
The SPEAK EH: The Chair wishes
to state tn t it is debatable.
Mr.. BEAN: l wish to address the
House briefly.
Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen Of the
House of Representatives.:
When l was induced 10 leave the
pillow to enter a contest for a seat in
tins honorable body, little thought,
were l successful at the polls. that
the first matter I should be called
upon to act with reference thereto
would be one Of such great import
ance and far-reaching influence. One
that touches not only every home and
flreside Of our commonwealth, but
necessarily affects, either directly or
indirectly, every man, woman and
child throughout the length and
breadth of our nation as we'll. Yes.
gentlemen of Maine. more than this.
not only will the adoption of this
proposed amendment to our Federal
constitution, Or it's rejection, affect
either directly or indirectly the 1OO.-
100000 people now living in this ma
ton today. but the millions Of sue
ceedlng generations, and the effect is
so far reaching that it cannot be even
bounded or described.
My friends. as l come among YOU
for the first time and rise to speak. |
am frank to admit that this question
rs OF such moment that it staggers
me; and, while decided in my own
mind years ago in regard to the ques-
ton OF temperance. l consider myself
wholly incompetent to decide this
question for others. Besides, if this
were alone n question of temperance
legislation. great as that question is,
there would be. l am sure, an oppor-
tunity for an honest difference OF
opinion. This to me, however, is not
question of temperance alone-far
from it. 1t is a question as to how it
shall be brought about, and it is to
the latter. as we'll as the former. |
question that l wish to address Won
IN the exercise of any natural human
rlsht. For this reason. gentlemen of |
Maine, we have no precedent to fol- |
low lnasmuch as all previous amend
ments to our National Constitution
nave been further guarantee of in
dividual liberty and natural human !
rights. The one now proposed being
a denial Of such rights and liberties. |,
and for the first time in our national
history have state legislators been|
presented with proposition by their |
votes to carry to the people in whose
service they are employed any single
right or individual liberty of conduct:
and l repeat that such a precedent |
should not be established. 1t appears
to me that when you begin to denv
an American citizen his liberty. gem
tlemen. you are rocking the boat of |
the old Ship of State that Lincoln
said was conceived in liberty and
dedicated to the proposition that all
men were created equal.
To begin with allow me to say that !
the side of this question on which |
find myself arrayed does not seem to
be the popular side from the reports
that we obtain from the actions
taken by other states. However. ri
nave no excuses nor apologies to
make for not thinking or acting as
other men. History tells us of a man
who says he would rather be right
than President. Pardon me if I bor-
row part Of his expression and saw
mat would rather think that l was.
rl,A Y