Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-11

elective ofiices that II elected they
would enforce all laws were the
simplest thjlgs in tie world to maks
andssrequired not the slightest bit
OF courage. but that carrying the
pTs-slection promises through to
completion Is another matter, was
the point that William R. Pattangall
OF Augusta. candidate for the Demo-
cratic Nomination for governor made
In o characteristic address before
the assemblage OF Kennebec county
party leaders. and workers at City
Hall, Tuesday afternoon.
Mr.. Pattangall In the course OF
his address declared that Governor
Baxter had in his possession, evil
dence of the conspiracy to defeat the
| liquor laws In ArOostook county, at
least a year before the Grant tndict-
| ment was procured by the Federal
district attorney. yet made no move
| to have the conspirators and law
breakers interrupted in their pro-
ceedings.
The meeting at City Hall began at
IL o'clock in the forenoon with an
Informal get-together of the women
| at which the activities of the women
I of the party in the several towns
| and cities were discussed and plans
| formulated for the coming cam
| paign. Lunch was provided at the
| municipal building and the general
| session was called to order at 1eSO
by Grin B. Frost Of this city. There
were about one hundred present for
the speaking program, and besides
| Mr.. Pattargall, Hon. Fulton ]. Red
man of Ellsworth, and Mayor Leon
| o. Tebbetts OF Waite rville. candidate
| for the Democratic nomination for
| Congress delivered addresses in the
! interests OF the party campaign.
Mr.. Pattangail spoke In part as
follows:
'"The people of Maine are becom-
i ing interested in their own local af-
| fairs. They are beginning to realize
that good government like charity
should begin at home. that govern
ment IL q practical matter and that
1t may be a useful agency in pro-
noting the general welfare or an
expensive luxury according to the
manner in which tits administered.
"They are beginning to tire of
high sounding phrases and extrava-
giant promises and to believe more In
action than In words. The old
fashioned politician does not appear
to understand this. He continues to
believe In the great value of mere
words.
"A recent advertisement in behalf
Of the candidacy of Senator Earring
ton illustrates the point. 1t reads as
follows:
| There is a federal and a
state prohibitory law on the
statute books. 1t is immaterial
| whether 1t is a popular or I'M
! popular law. 1t is law. The
| question is, do you and I, as
| self-respecting. law abiding peo-
| pie generally, wish to help in
bringing into disrepute all law.
| by publicly or privately disre-s
garding this one law. The
man who persists in the viola
ton of any law. privately or
publicly. is helping to under
mine the foundation of govern
ment quite as truly as the man
who carries the red flag in his
hand and the spirit of anarchy
in his heart
"Such Is the attitude OF the Hon.
Frank G.. Harrington, candidate for
the Republican nomination as Gov
ernor of Maine. 1t takes a strong
man to make a declaration like that,
one who has the courage of his con-
victions. 1t requires a strong man
to live up to such a standard"
"Of course Senator Harrington be-
lieves in enforcement Of law. So
does Senator Brewster. So do I.
So do the very great majority of the
people Of even the less enlightened
communities. Certainly an over
whelming majority of the people Of
Maine. It does not take any courage
to announce belief in a generally
accepted and extremely popular the
DRY of government.
"It would be courageous man,
one courageous to the point of fool
hardness. to advocate non-enforce-
ment of law.
'But believing in thing and pro-
curing It are not quite the same
thing. Governor Baxter believes in
enforcement of law and likewise be-
lieves In the wisdom of the prohibit
tory law, yet he had in his possess
sion, filed with him by DR.. Sleeper,
Collector of Customs for Maine, evil
dence disclosing the situation in
| Aroostook County which finally re-
suited in the conviction Of Sheriff
Grant, at least a year before the
Grant indictment was procured in
the Federal Court, and made no
| move to interrupt the disgracefuI
proceedings which were goi9g on in
northwestern Maine.
"All OF the Republican leaders in
Kennebec County, including Senator
Harrington, believe in enforcement
OF the prohibitory law and would
frowrl on ofiicial participation in the
profits OF the liquor \business but
what have they done to assist the
Federal authorities to unearth the
real facts with regard to the situa-
ton in this vicinity, or, are they
unaware that such an investigation
has been going on?
IT have no desire to criticise Sem
ator Harrington in a personal way.
We are friends and our friendship
Is Of many years standing. He Is
essentiailx an honest man. But he
has not shown any greater degree
of courage or of independence in
dealing with the liquor issue than
have the majority of Republican
politicians.
''The only law ever proposed in a
Maine legislature designed to pre-
vent the wholesale use of intoxicants
in Maine by anybody and everybody
who had the price with which to pay
for them was the bone dry law"
introduced in the legislature of 1917.
''That law would have made
Maine truly prohibition territory.
Senator Harrington. then a member
Of the House. voted with the liquor
interests on that law. So did Sena-
tor Brewster. The Republican state
machine was against the proposition
and Senator Harrington, as well as
hts opponent in the Primaries, voted
with the machine. At present the