Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-27
TUESDAY, Novsmber q, 1929.
W eaeh wan's innpr sorrow
Mere writ open hip brow
Hew many would our pity havp
Whe hsvS our envy new!"
THE sevERyeR AMP THE LAW

p. whe by, our envy new!"
THE eeFERsaR AMP THE LAW
public sentiment is ! look up fhe law
;ited !fspresentdtiyes IL the people
and beg been solemnly placed upon
the Statute books OF the State. There
i1s no other way to find ont what IL
fpublic sentiment. Certainly / do not
lprppose TO take my Wis wS OF It either
Iron those who counfenance the
lltqnor tralAllc or WHO lack the moral
cSnrags t. oppose It. FROM Coy
Y.M. q. a. workers 81 Pftfsaeid. tie
18th. inst. ~ =
The Governor takes position on
Arm ground. Bubble sentiment 10 not
to bs measured by rumor. While the
lars may not accurately represent
the actual sentiment in the hearts of
some people. some perhaps not fully
themselves realizing iust what in all
instances their sentiment may be,
these laws are the only record which
? public omcial may properly recog-
nize. though he might conclude in the
case Of some statute, like what are
known - the "old bl, Q laws. for in
stance, that 2 certain amount OF
discretion II permitted to him.
The prchibitory law is not one of
tho ancient blue laws; the record of
it IL Of recent makinp. Not only Is
u one Of the State laws but also one
Of the national laws. backed by an
emspdment In the Constitution. And
~ this coanection it seems pertinent
70 remark that nope are quicker to
claim the protection OF law than are
ths law-brsakers themselves. This
ER| illpstrated by the plea of
"Rummy Bill" Mccoy, captured out
eide the three mile limit by federal
oaicers pn Sunday.
30. We think, 1t should be conceded
that the Governor has taken his stand
or Arm footing. That he win escape
ctifictsm for ths way In which be
does # is extremely Improbable. It
ID not diacult to understand that
men could honestly feel that . case
was npt made put again, the sheriff
Of Hancock County. One hears some
sey that II the sheriff was inehicient
then the federal officers were also
fnemcient; that the latter did not
capture Herlihy PHI the while he was
operating until come Of his tools
"sqnealed" on him. so why say the
Hancock County officers are .negli-
gent? Why rake Hancock County
onicials oyer the Goals and not Of
nrials in any other county where
there is' reason to suppose the rum
law Is being violated? It IL by no
mesrs strapge that law abiding and
honorable citizens squared their de-
fsnse Of the HANCOCK County officers
With their conscience md with what
hey probably regard good common
Ffnss. But this yiew cyerlooks some
features which We believe worthy OF
consideration ana which do not var
rant opposition to tho Governor for
ticking the stand for the law that he
hes taken.
II is evident that he views his
oath Of ofacs seriously with regard
TO this matter Of law enforcement
u IL not inconceiYable that be has
asked himself: What would have
been said respecting the efficiency Of
the shsfih Of HANCOCK county had
there been 2 series Of bprgiaries, OF
of incsndtarisms, or Of murders, I'M
INTERRUPTED and undecided over ths
period Spf time that Mr.. Herlihy
brazenly dened the prohibitory Law
the law not only Of this State but
Of the nation as well2 Would moi
that sheriff have bestirrsd himself
Would he not. II unable to apprehend
the guilty have called tor assist
Common sense REPLIES to that; {,
tells ns he would have done 90. Hs
ND not de 70, be was not thus con.
eerned over the repeated viola lions Of
fhs prohipitory lazy, about which hi
must have had some inkling. assum.
inE him to be possessed Of qualities
ftting him for his high Office. Ii
does not excuse him in the eye oil
the law or in the view which the
Governor evidently takes regarding
the duties Of his Official position, tc
say that the sherifrs attitude Is ap.
proved by his people. Neither doei
this prove that the people of Han:
cock County arp not reprssentativ,
Of type Of citizenship that ON til,
whole will compare favorably will
that Of their neighbors. But in tn,
matter Of the obligation to, enforc,
the prohibitory laws with the sam,
zeal we would laws against theft OF
arson we are left to conclude, q.
governor Baxter evidently has con.
cluded, that they fall short of theil
duty az good citizens. assuming thei
sheriff represents their attitude.
Governor Baxter seems to hay,
copcluded that his Obligations d,
net permit him to rest content be-
cause. after due process provided I'M
der the statutes, he has not heen abb
to Ok responsibility. He would brinl
heme to the consciousness Of tn
lsE-shlaipE psapis re Maine . clea
campFshsnsisn Of their accountant
~, q theF obligation to co-operat
With federal nfac!als IN enforcipg tn
law. q thsiF duty 70 complain of en-
nefligence on the part of either III
1ssfsrai or the State or COUNTY Of
aesslf He would remina them q
alss satx e 81 thsir best e upheld