Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-19
REFLECTIONS IN A LOOKING
GLASS -

HEF LEI IONS IN "A IOONlN1
GLASS II
Sheriff Westcott of Hancock
County returns from Augusta to the
placid life of his shrievalty amid the
applause of his friends. Nothing ap-
peared at the hearing before the
Governor and Council to indicate
that his popularity has seriously
waned since he was the choice Of the
majorit' of the voter of. his county
at the primary election, which is by
the way thought by many to be the
panacca of political ills and a guar
anty of excellence in the chosen ones.
Any apprehensions lest a grievous
wrong be done him by what we are
left to infer is an iniquitous law. I'M
der which "the executive depart
ment of the State can practically in
dict a sheriff and then try him on
the Indictment, are seen to be
groundless SO far as Sheriff Wescott
is concerned. He returns bearing
aloft his mace to what seem ausri-
cious conditions. AS we recall it the
froward individual who dared to sell
Jamaica ginger in that county is now
in Jail, according to the testimony
now submitted. The superman, Dan
Herlihy. is in prison, doubtless by
this time reading the tidings.
Furthermore the hearing clearly
demonstrated that this l1erlihy is a
superman. All the evidence tended
to prove that. He could sit in re-
formed s..loon, entirely apart from
and uncontaminated by the aroma of
alcoholic stimulants, and for several
years direct the ships at sea into the
sheltered coves of Mount Desert; he
could find accommodation for stor-
age in the best cellars or in the most
aristocratic hay-mows; his limous-
ines, loaded to the gunwa!es-if you
know what we mean-toured' the
countryside successfully, successfully
mind you; in short Mr.. Herlihy was
a most remarkable man, the statutes
of our lawmakers most tangled
skeins. and the bosIly' dells of Han
cock County with innocent eXteriors
were being DETAINED. 1t really seems
too bad that the superman qualities
of MIR. Herlihy could not be usefully
employed. usefully in consonance
with the Vo;stead law and State OF
Maine laws.
The signal corps which flashed the
Herlihy messages, winking wickedly
onights that were dark, appear to
have been more lucky than some of
still intact. The mysterious spy, who
never has failed to note when the
sheriff went and came, has not been
epprehended. Well. Sheriff Westcott
must expect one or more flies in a
big COB of ointment.
The Governor has done his duty
Under the laws Of the State, be they
good or bad, he could hardly do
otherwise than obey their mandate
and summons the sheriff to a hear
ing after what happened to Herlihy.
Probably not realizing what a su-
perman Herlihy really is, he thought
he could detect in the evidence on
which the great importer and dis
tributer was convicted traces of in
efficiency on the part of county Of
ficials. 1t really isn't to be wondered
at that he did. Others thought so,
or at least some others did. But
1t is all clear now. One word, one
magic though awesome name ex-
plains it-Herlihy.
So we are left to conclude that the
Governor has done his duty as he
saw it. that the councillors did their
duty as they saw it-and it must
be admitted it was somewhat COM
plicated ensemble of Viewpoints
and there was brilliant array of
testimony before them to the effect
that Sheriff Wescott had done his
duty as he saw 1t. Then there was
an amount of applause which indi-
Gated that some of the good people
of Hancock county felt they had
done their duty when they reelected
him. We have felt that nowhere
could be found people supporting,
aiding and abetting their public
servants as they should. Perhaps
Hancock county is the exception. Nc
one may doubt that it is a beautiful
county peopled by fine lot of folks
OF course, there, as elsewhere, just
criticism could find just cause. But
considering that should be in seri.
GUS vein, so perhaps would be more
appropriate at another time.
The hearing held up a looking
glass to all Of us, the people Of Han.
cock county included, and one some.
times sees funny things in q looking
glass. also some mighty seriou.
things, and the latter, we think, usu
ally make the most lasting impress
sion.
Following the earthquake Japan
decreases her naval estimate b,