Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-08
! clear field to themselves, unin-
fuenced by the appointment ! have

made.
MANY sensational statements are
being made in connection with the
recent -Aroostook conspiracy cases.
It has been publicly alleged that l
am to ask for the resignation Of GER
tain public officials. The publication
of such manufactured rumors that
reflect upon the character of these
officials or upon private citizens or
other public officials is wrong and
to be deplOred. A mans good name
is his dearest possession, but when
it is attacked in an under-h handed
way. he has no redress. The citizens
CT Maine will resent such methods.
1t would be impossible for me to deny
all the erroneous statements now be-
ing circulated about conditions in
Maine, and l caution my fellow citi-
zens not to accept any statement as
coming from me unless IL is issued
directly from the Executive Chamber
at Augusta.
"Any important move that develops
promptly will be made public. for
consider it my duty to give full in
formation to the people of this State.
I'm regard TO granting immunity
to witnesses who turned states evil
dence, as previously stated. believe
that the State should recognize the
immunity granted by the United
States officials. and my letter to the
county attorney of Aroostook in
which ask him to disregard a pre-
viouS telegram is as follows:
January 4, 1924.
Herschel Shaw, Esquire,
County Attorney,
Houlton. Maine.
My Dear County Attorney:
Under date of January first, ] re-
quested you to prosecute certain wit
ncsSes who testified in the Aroostook
conspiracy cases in the federal court
in, Bangor. Recent developments in
these cases indicate to me that such
prosecution by the State would tend
to intimidate certain witnesses in
similar federal cases, of which there
are likely to be others. and would
defeat the ends of justice and make
further convictions difficult if not
improbable In view of this. with
draw the request l made of you.
Full cooperation by federal and
State officials is needed if criminals
are to be punished and the immunity
granted to witnesses in the United
States court may well be extended to
our State courts. There must be no
conflict of jurisdiction.
In the case OF the sheriff of Han
cock county recently heard at Au-
gusta, the United States authorities
granted immunity to the witnesses
for the State. and a moral and per-
haps legal obligation rests upon each
sovereignty to respect the immunity
agreements entered into by the other.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) PERCIVAL p. BANTER.
Governor of Maine.
There is no occasion for excite
m.nt or haste and every one should
keep cool at the present time. The
fact that one sheriff has been con-
victed should not shake the peoples
confidenc, in other Sheriffs or in
county attorneys. believe our
Maine officials. almost without eX-
ception, are honest. upright men who
intend to do, and who do their duty.
They are entitled to the respect and
good opinion of their fellow citizens.
1.-THE decent people of Maine must
be made to realize that the prohibit
tory law cannot be enforced unless
they stand squarely behind it. Above
all else. the individual citizen him
self must strictly observe the law.
: Many wellto-do citizens in high so
cial circles talk freely about their
they can purchase the 'contraband at
! will, never realizing that they are
disgracing themselves and their
State by breaking the law.
Let those well dressed complacent
! business and professional men who
! buy liquor from the criminals who
bring it into our State pause and think
| things over. If few such men were
convicted for conspiracy. it would
have a wholesome effect all over the
country. Every individual should
| obey the law.
Each community should enforce
the law within its own borders. For
three years | repeatedly have said
that every town and city of this
State should take care of it's own en-
| forcement through it's police and con-
stables and should not rely upon the
county. 1t is altogether too common
n practice for the town to place the
responsibility for law enforcement
upon the county. the county to place
it upon the State and all three to
place it upon the federal government.
This is matter that should be close
both to the conscience of the indIvid-
ual and to the public conscience of
each community.
"As long az I am governor, shall
fight for the prohibitory law. regard
less of the abuse that comes from
the liquor interests and their friends
in high and low places. Such attacks
give strength to a man fighting in n
good cause l welcome them. The
recent disclosures have caused a
moral awakening that will produce
wholesome results in Maine, and
conscientious public officials through
out the State soon will feel the effect
of an ever increasing public sent-
ment for law enforcement and law
obedience"