Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-09
SMITH OUT
Continued from Pace One,

contribution tospublic action .aSains,
hard liquor. which Is undoubtedly
put under the ban by. the Language
Of the eighteenth amendment
opinion; any amendment to the statuf -
can be made only by the people them.
selves through their elected represent
atiyes in Congress. Of -the United
'The amount Of light wines ana beer
sold in states that chose to Iegalize
the trafic, as well as the manner and
media OF their vale. should be left to
the states Themselves" said the gov
ernor THE state might well saw that
It could be cold only for consumption
in the home, or IL might we'll say n
would be sold only in properly regu-
lated hotels and restaurants. The New
York state act Of 1920 (Which permit
ted the sale Of beverages of 2.75 per
cent. Of alcoholic content) was very
strong in its language as to places
where wine and beer could be sold and
made impossible the opening of the
saloon" 49,
Whatever alcoholic strength IS made
legal in the future, the saloon has
gone for good. the governor believes.
He referred to the memorandum that
he issued when he signed the bill re-
pealing the Muilan-Gage act, the New
York prohibition law which followed
the lines of the Volstead act, and add
ed: II repeat the declaration I therein
made that the saloon is and ought to be
q defunct institution in this country
never expect to see 1t again"
The governor asserted he had always
favored strict enforcement of all laws,
and that he had obtained last winter
substantial increase in the state po-
Err n vi nla of nf
Volstead act. He said he had made
clear in the Mullan-Gage memorandum
his determination to enforce the fed
oral prohibition law. II have never
failed since then" he added, ito give
my personal attention to any and all
complaints that have been made TO me
about any lack of law enforcement,
following up every such complaint with
all the detailed work that goes with it."
The governor urged strengthening Of
the federal laws with regard to inter
state commerce and the importation of
strong liquors. He said that most of
tho liquor consumed in this state was
Struggled from foreign countries.
IF the federal government sincerely
end honestly desired to limit that
traffic, It is within its power to do it."
he asserted II cannot help taking my
position with those who believe that
the attitude taken by the present gov
eminent at Washington on the ques-
ton Of prohibition is one that is in
tended TO fool the 'drys' and. whether
consciously or unconsciously, to leave
the vets open to a certain form of
political blaickmail.'
Speaking of the Ku Klux Khan, the
cDyCrnor said:
an the latter part of your letter
you speak about tho attitude of my
friends to an anti Ku Klux Khan
plank in the Democratic national
platform.
Il do not know what you mean by
my friends. | have very great
many of them. None Of them thinks
for Inc. | think for myself.
1T seems almost a waste of time,
after my long public career, for it
t. he necessary for me to say any
thing about any individual or group
al individuals or any organization
that questions the nationality, the
race. the creed or the religion of any
American. | have repeatedly said in
public speech that nothing is or could
be so contrary to the very principles
on which this country was founded
AS a hoy and as man j always
road with great deal of delight the
immortal words that jefferson wrote
into the Declaration of independence
" that all men are created equal.
That they are endowed by their Gre
ator with certain inalienable rights.
that among these are life, liberty and
tho pursuit of happiness
# take that liberty to mean liber-
Is within law. and certainly it is
within the law that any man worship
God according to his own inclina-
ton. Certainly that declaration
draws no color line and certainly it
was intended to refer to all citizens
whether born under the flag or
whether brought under it by an oath
of allegiance to it.
There is no committee or any
other power that l know of that will
ut this time or at any other time
prevent me from giving free express
sion to Just what | think about any
public question. ] make as many
mistakes as any other human being.
but | will never make the mistake OK
being afraid to talk out"