Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 30, 1908

Prohibition in Maine

DURING the campaign for governor of Maine, which ended on June 30, there were two candidates in the field for office of governor on the Republican ticket — Hon. William T. Haines and Hon. Bert M. Fernald. Both had avowed their belief in the prohibitory law, but Mr. Haines was in favor of submitting again to the people the question of whether prohibition or license should rule in the State. The question had been resubmitted to the people in 1884, and the people had expressed their wishes in the matter by a vote of three to one in favor of prohibition. So strong was the sentiment throughout the State against even resubmitting the question to a vote, that, when the time for the nomination arrived, Mr. Haines withdrew from the race. In reference to his withdrawal, Mr. Haines says:—

I bow in the most humble way to the will of the majority. I have advocated resubmission. We have had resubmission here by the agitation I started, and I have had the full benefit of it. By the action of this convention, the great cause of prohibition has been reaffirmed as much as if it had been voted by the people of the State at the polls.