Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-01
IN ROLE SPHINX
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Continued from Page one)
the repeal as the first steps in a cam.
paign to wipe the federal enforcement
law and the amendment OF the books.
The hearing throughout was orderly
Tor the most part. only an occasional
and quickly suppressed hiss. and a few
jeers. cropping out. Supporters Of the
opposing factions were loud in their
applause of their own respective
speakers. however. each apparently
trying to impress the governor with
the volume of their cheers.
Governor Smiths only comment on
the cheers was to warn the cheerers
that they were wasting the speakers
time"
A few good laughs were mingled
with the more serious moments Of the
hearing, the biggest roar coming at
the end Of the long session when. while
photographer was getting set to pho.
tograph the assembly man in tho au-
dience leaped to his feet and urged the
governor to turn the wait to good ad-
vantage by getting out your pen and
Sign the repeater now"
Governor Smith Joined in the laugh.
Mrs. Woodruff Leader Of Drys
It was 2.06 o'clock when Governor
Smith entered the crowded assembly
chamber. acknowledged the applause
by a smile. bow and . thwaek with
his gavel for order. and started the
speakers on their long grind. Oppen-
ents Of the repeal. marshalled by their
floor leader. Mrs. Ida B. Sammis Wood
ruff. used the first two hours, opening
in good battle technique with their
heavy siege guns and closing with q
cha Of M mt v,,, % l-ar
After f1ve-minute interval. Govern
or Smith gave the signal to Assembly,
man Louis A. Cuvillier. author Of the
repeal bill and floor leader Of the
forces supporting 1t. and the pros used
used two hours with the same STRAIT
egy. Each side then was given Is min.
Ites for rebuttaL
James P. Holland. president Of the
New York State Federation Of Labor,
who also represented Samuel Com
pers. president Of the A. F. Of L., was
tire first siege gun trained on Governor
Smith by advocates Of the repeal. He
devoted most Of his time to reading .
letter sent BY Mr.. Gompers, who was
unable to attend. Both Holland and
Gompers urged him to sign the repeal
err as the first gun in campaign for
modification Of the national prohibition
SAAoA SSbCAI 4SI 81 d0 10 KlVS tNe
working man his wine and beer"
Against State Rights
Augustus Thomas.s play wright. then
took UP the burden and in an address
literally sprinkled with epigrams that
kept his adherents cheering at fire.
quent intervals, denounced the forces
that brought the 18th amendment into
being as Ignorant and illiterate" per-
sons. overimbued with zeal to regulate
their fellows who had foisted on the
country an Ubiquitous piece Of sump-
tuary legislation. subversivs Of state
rights"
There Is no feroeity." he exclaimed.
like an ignorant enthusiasm, and that
which wrote the 18th amendment was
ignorant and flliterate. 80 far a. his
tory is concerned" The high spot Of
his address. IS far as his supporters
were concerned. came when he at
tackled United States Attorney Hay.
ward OF New York. one Of the principal
anti-repeal speakers, who, implying
that most OF the support OF the repeal
came from New York. had urged the
governor to choose between The Side.
walks Of New York and The Star
Spangled Banner"
IF the sidewalks Of New York are
entitled to something that you can
give them-you give It to them" he
urged.
1.-TWO great fallacies have been killed
in the last century," Mr.. Thomas said.
Zone is that the king can do no wrong:
another is that the state can do no
wrong. Now we are confronted with
the proposition that . majority can do
no wrong.
1--WE are told that the majority makes
our laws end 1t IL our duty to obey
them. 1t is-unless the laws are an
invasion OF our inherited rights. Then
1t becomes our duty to resist them"
Quoting from Thonss Jensrson's
writings on state rights to support his
argument that the 18th amendment
was an invasion Of the rights OF the
states. and citing in particular Jsfeer.
sons statement that II rights Of the
people were taken from them their ul-
innate appeal was to force. Mr.. Thomas
exclaimed:
II am not advising anyone to take
arms. as Jefferson suggested. I am
not even predicting that they will. un.
less they are given relief from this
ubiquitous sumptuary legislation, but
would not predict that they will not"
Declaring the governor had been
elected by huge majority primarily
because they knew ne was q man that
never neglected ANY right that Re.
quired personal courage" he said:
Opponents Of this repeal are fatu-
Gus enough to believe that for promise
OF support you never had. you will see
to 1t. do not believe It,"
Rewriting again to Jefferson and his
assertion about ''inalienabls rights
which he wrote into the Declaration Of
Independence. Mr.. Thomas picked up
dictionary.
"You are no more educated than
am" he said. your boast 10 that you
came UP from the fish market. / come
from the cinder path. We will both
have to go to the dictionary for 1 def-
milton Of this term.
AN inalienable right II one that
cannot be taken away-even II it, Dos.
SCISSOR wishes II 70 be taken away. It
10 up to you to decide whether the
right to use wine and beer ID iualien-
able. We contend It 10. The state cf
New York never acquired the rieht to