Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-26
FINDS SOLACE
Continued from Pace one)

off1clals, and the lawyers of that
county We're almost unanimous in his
support. In fact men in high posi-
ton appealed to the Council in the
sheriff's behalf. The States case
was lost by a vote of six to two, and
tne sheriff was judged to have been
both faithful and Efficient
IN my opinion a new definition of
falthtulness and efficiency" has
peen established in Maine by the
decision of the Hancock County case,
ana now any sheriff who admits that
ne mas done nothing to stop the rum
trafhc and has not apprehended a
pootiegger or rumrunner for several
years, even though they flourish in
his jurisdiction, can claim to be both
faithful and efficient"
fortunately most of our sheriffs
in this State are conscientious and
DO everything in their, power to keep
their counties clean. AS for myself
l snail not relax my efforts and shall
continue to make it just as disagree
aple as L can for the.rum trade.
we are fortunate in having a.
most faithful and courageous United
states District Attorney and an able
and active Federal Prohibition
Agent. 1t is to be regretted that
Maine cannot clean its own house
without Federal assistance, but in
view OF the recent disclosures I well
come the aid of the Federal author
tues. for they have done splendid
work IN places where our own off,
Gals have failed.
The remark is often made to me
You cannot enforce the law because
PUBIC sentiment is not in favor of
it, Recently a prominent citizen Of
Bangor made this statement to me
and assured me that the situation
was hopeless. Wha is public senti-
ment and who is to interpret it?
Those persons who do not believe
IN the law CO not hesitate to inter-
pref public sentiment according to
their own tastes and inclinations.
They talk with those who use liquor
and who buy it from bootleggers, and
they obtain their views of public SEN
timent from law breakers. AS a
matter of fact it is not for the Gov
ernor or the sheriff. or even for
Judges. to interpret public sentiment.
1T is for item to enforce the law.
am not ready to accept a definition of
public sentiment that does not cor
respond with the laws. as found upon
our Statute books When I want to
iil'N OuI WbdI puDIlC SER lIleHl Is L
look up the law that has been pas
sed by the accredited representatives
of the people and has been solemnly
placed upon the Statute books of the
State. There is no other way to
find out what is public sentiment.
Certainly l do not propose to take
my WIS of it either from those who
countenance the liquor traffic Or who
lack the moral courage to oppose it.
THE sentiment of the lawbreakers
Of Hancock County and those who
sustained them and the sentimer' OF
lthe same group of citizens in any
other section of the State does not
represent the real public sentiment
of the law-abiding citizens of Maine
I'm Hancock Count, in Bangor,
and in the other towns and cities of
the State there is a great body of
law abiding citizens w 10 in my OF n
ion outnumber the laI!breakers and
their friends. These are the repre-
sentative citizens of N,aine and al
though sometime they seem to be in
the minority on account of the
strength and affrontry of lawbreak-
ers, they actually are in the majority
anC the time VIII come when they
will tlke hold of the situation and
support officials who ere trying to dc
their duty
Il notice that some politicians say
that prohibition will not be an is
sue in the coming Stat and Nation
al election. These men are deceiy-
ing themselves because Lrohibition Is
destined to be one of the greatest, If
not the greatest issue, in the coming
campaign, and any, party who ignores
it in my opinion is doomed to de-
feat. Prohibition tra.lscends party
lines and it cannot be pushed into
the Background. 1t should be faced
courageously and law-abiding citi-
Zens of every party should unite in
demanding that party managers
come out fearlessly and openly for
it."