Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-17
Official a Tetotaler
Continued from Page one)

II
and on the streets. It used to be
thought that certain sections OF the
State could have law unto them
selves and these are the places that
have brought discredit upon the fair
name of Maine in the years gone by.
Wherever / go I am asked about
conditions in Maine and it distresses
me to have people say, We'll, I
used to go down to Maine and I al
ways could get all the liquor want
ed I assure them that the situa-
ton has changed and that it would
be difficult for them~to obtain any
now in most Of the cities and town
of the State.
The recent exposure in Hancock
| county Is a disgrace to the State, and
1 that county will rise and drive out of
office the alliance responsible for 1t.
I care not whether it is a Republi-
can or Democratic organization: it
| is not a party question. For years
this group has ruled Hancock coun-
! ty; they have controlled the poll
| tics of every community. and the
good people have been cowed by the
| show of force of those in the alliance
| between rum and politics.
When was a candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for governor in
1922 it happened that had the APP
pointment Of municipal judge in Han
cock county. The appointment was to
be made about 10 days before the pri-
maries and I was given to understand
that unless I appointed a certain can
didate that I would not carry the
county. looked up the record Of this
man and found out just what the sit
uation was and few days before the
primary / appointed another man in
whom I had confidence. The threat
was carried out and lost Hancock
county, but in doing so / saved my
own self-respect. The would-be judge
came to Augusta to defend Sheriff
Wescott and sat beside him throughout
the trial. He could not refrain from
boasting Of what he had done to me.
and went through the corridors of the
State House saying that he had "gotten
even with the governor and had
taken the county away from him. That
is the old story. but most people do not
believe that such thing could exist
in Maine in 1922 and 1923. AS mat
ter Of fact, within a very few days
after my appointment relative of the
would-be judge had his offices raided
and $4,000 worth of liquor was seized
by government officials. How would
have felt If had appointed this mans
son-in-law to municipal judgeship?
The story Of Hancock county will go
down into history as a disgraceful
episode. I expect to see the present
sheriff run for Office again. for he
hopes to obtain vindication from his
fellow citizens. There is no reason
why that county should not he just as
clean as any other for conditions there
as matter of fact are no more diff
cult than in other counties and all it
needs is an officer whose heart is in
the work and who will be honest and
efficient.
To show the affrontery of the liquor
people, petitions have been circulated
asking for the parole of the notorious
rum seller. Herlihy. who is now serv-
ing in Atlanta. / have written to the
parole board in Washington telling
them that the whole State Of Maine
would be shocked If Herlihy should
be let out of prison single day be-
fore the expiration Of his term. This
political-rum group will attempt any
thing. but I don't believe they can
deceive the authorities at Washington
in this matter.
The oath of office of public officer
in Maine ought to be sacred. but the
Hancock county case has made a jest
of it. A man who on his own state
ment throughout his term has never
caught a rum-runner. bootlegger or
rum-carrying car. was given a good
coat of whitewash and be held up to
the community as faithful and eff
cient" public servant. A few days aft
err the Hancock trial a large quantity
Of liquor was found in the safety de-
post vaults of one of the banks in
Bar Harbor. I am of the opinion that
h. IL, i f,,I
search he would find liquor stored in
many prominent places where it can
easily be located.
1--WE are fortunate in Maine in hav-
ing a United States district attorney
and federal prohibition officer like
Hon. Frederick r. Dyer and Hon. Seth
May. These United States officials
have no friends to protect and they are
fearless and doing splendid work. I
wish all our prosecuting officers were
as energetic as they are.
II rely upon the women of the State
in this matter even more than I do
upon the men. for the women are deter
mined that their children shall be pro-
tected from evil influences, and the
women cannot be easily deceived or
misled. and they are not subject to the
business and political influences as are
the men.
II am great believer in the public
schools of Maine and am glad that my
parents sent me to them. In my in
augural message of January, 1928. I
called the attention of the people of the
State to the fact that some of the pub
| lie funds were being paid out to pri-
vate and sectarian schools and I eX-
pressed the belief that public school
| funds should be used for public schools
| only. I have felt this way for long
time and believe that the people Of the
| State are of the same opinion. In
bringing this matter to the attention
| of the public I did not intend to raise
; a sectarian issue. but felt that the mat
ter could be discussed calmly and dis
passionately and once it was under
stood that the practice Of paying
money to sectarian schools would
cease. Tt is to be regretted that spirit
| of intolerance has been aroused in
| some sections of the State, due largely
to the fact that the public school mat
| ter has been taken up and made a po-
! litical question by those who seek pub
lie office. Maine people as a rule are
| calm and able to discuss matters with
out personal feelings.
"The majority, whether II is a po-
litical or religious one. should be
very careful not to encroach upon the
| rights of the minority. In fact the
minority must depend upon the ma
jority for the protection of it's rights.
Those of us who were born here are
under a very direct obligation to &C.
cord every privilege and every protec-
ton to those who come here later than
- Ill., Co.