Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-21
L1HE PEOPLE
Express Their Views on the
Question Of Capital Removal
And Show that the Proposition
is Intensely Unpopular Among
Maine Citizens.
They Say To Present Building Should
Be Enlarged,
That There Is no Call Among the Masses
for Removal,
And That They Are Unwilling 10 Assume
That There is no Call Among the Masses
for Removal,
And That They Are Unwilling 10 Assume
Any Burdea Of Taxation for 4
New Building.
Some Porclbls Reasons Why This Natter
Should be Dealt With ConserVatiVely
and Economically.

When the Portland capital movers were
making their arguments before the leRisla-
i've committee and endcavoring by large
numbers and torrent Of eloQucnce to max.
1t appear that they had an enormous bAckin,
in their crusade, among the people of ths
State, the editors Of the Keunebec Journa
how the people of the State did feel upon
this matter. They accordingly prepared a
circular of inquiry regarding the subject
and sent it to we'll know
ciuzens aud representatives in ever,
cry aud town in Maine. la no instance did
th,y know beforehand the sentiments enter.
tanned by any one of them. These circu-
lars were not sent to the members Of an,
ties. They were sent to conservative
and influential citizens every where. NAM
of these citizens have been members Of th,
legislature. A large proportion Of them
responsible positions of public trust In then
towns and counties We are sure that mem
bers Of the present legislature will bea
wi,ne ss that these men are influential ones,
and ha. their sentiments are fairly repre-
-ntative Of the feelings on this matter en
tertsined in the communities where they re-
side. We have already received answer
from every county in the State anu
from very large ma ority Of the towns an1
cities, and they are still coming in. We n
sure our friend the Portland Press wbic,
has already, in violence of editorial cou .
tesy. published our circular letter, that v
shall not eli inmate" any Of the answers sent
us in response to our inquiries. We do NJ
know what are the methods Of uewspap -
procedure empoyed by our Portland con
temporary. but the X nie'sc Jonrn4l hrs
never yet asked any man 10 contribute to IT,
columns his view. on anv SUBJECT, and thei
refused to publish them because they did no
coincide with editorial opinion. We sh III
prin. the views Of every reply b ,ring th'
name Of its author. upon the following fur
damen'al inquiries.
Whether he favors removal to Portland
~hether there i. any call am,ng the poo"
in his town for removal at all; whether b
tavors the enlargemen Mt OF the present build
inx or the erection of new one aud wheth
or people Of hi, town would be willing t
bear the extra burden of taxation which tn
4 erection of new Capitol woul
impose upon them. We coDfe-
we have been astonished at the unail
, nifty with which the the people in PRACTICAL
Q all sections Of the State have condemned tn
e project Of capital removal. The propositio
i, an intensely unpopular one with III
q citizens of Maine. In only one county
q Cumberlan does il attsi any consider
= . strong men who do no, hesitate To oppose /
A There Is some strength apparent In po
II ton of York, but the feeling i, by no meaI
J. unanimous. We shall publish letters fro
!, citizens Of York county, strongly and 70
y cibly opposing this project OF capital reno
ID al. These letters will make it evident tn
:" the Biddeford gentleman who accor
/. panied the Po,tlanI boomer, on their speci
TO train Monday night and whp declared
III sonorous tones that 81 900 Of the citizens
. York county demanded the removal Of Il
n Capitol 10 Portlaud. had not consulted q
IT. people Of that county bu, had fallen into
t quite com non error and allowed himself
- be swept away by little local ebtbusiasI
nv The gentlemen from the vario towns
AT Maine whose opinions We publish are !
g moved from all influence Of special rair
=. free tickets and free lunches. They ha
in heard the cIamors Of no crowds Of boomer
he neither have they felt the influence. Of
. po~erful lobby. They write from :
q1iet Of their own homes, upon a quest
IN which vitality concerns both them and tn.
he felloy citizens. They represent The ca
IS jadznent and Overwhelming sentiment
-, =. the people Of Maine, and their opinions 4
lid certainly worthy Of unbiased and candid CO
an sideraiion. We pablish only = ANAL p
oh ton Of the letters We have received. 4
IN morning. bu, We shall see that the opini,
to Of al who answer our inquiries are give
ne place in our Columns
~ Aadroscoggin.
yo-fA Green.
Hon. H. A. Gilbert wriss;-
UT % me iBdiyiduzi here docs not spT< ar,
net hs. there been shown, stfs reason of any ~
an VIA ever why the matter s.ouId claim Auy att
ton sseo at the hand. of iez.laiors. Tns PEI
VA nave not asked for . removal I'D II would be-
" 10 ~ Ine nier that they are the gtfuI co odi
al Of N. capitol well other pTOJ<,y Of the ia
:. and could tlssy be al owed the fishi cssy profss
mug the matter Of having an opfp' innty u b. hsf
the can eoufden Iy say that 30 lar .. the 'osp ~
IN .snt /. roas.. ned, do not thnk sing I'D VI
-. could b. found Who sosld favor r.novs
a<r ImsBt believe l. also sDbstzotiay anshsi
ec.s In o.hsf town. Of the elDity fis Isopi" are
nal. willing TO a. uuse any burdens u t kA'ion
\. | called for b. nees.s ty. I ~ h. state iigas.
us not ia nj h all tie esllsd for u ~ fn'
hi ba, stiii snase 20 &C. along fsa.oDzbl
ma, | an can do sDsne ssars l0pssf. Ny own ~
L. that .beB it can be q ~nbOsi u ~ u
hip ~sfei.nt 10 fssst sasis u iDrres-rd 70
cted Il 10 my II ot5itisy1 tia the att siiOn ~
.. Oh should be- cal q To tii I al issas
snt i tals ed ssy be tssss IL tDs az faIars.
f"' FL II dgsins fi,+s;
giBg The y op.s II the state have been hiDdffe
pre- ;sxAtioB ff loar time nd are lisi brslnhit
s.e tDslr ssy tiisvayB muaieipz i,dsbts5n. g
ID" ssr u q; thsy san nd erect for tie nfst
not IA a asasf 70 a e afary and .bOs,d Iisre b. IA
nan r. .rls poi ny>Jn iseD Il Si give tSsia ecu
aater t.~ siTs g they have bad sssS the y
issi las." Ia ugh ts~y mAJ s'rsr t~
'ash tnittsd 10 . 10 in. IL wva 10 very