The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-25

| uLoCuboiOu Ill LILO IlOuoCs aO OAaiMO0 bho'
the bill as amended. applying to all the state
would create hardship in small towns.
There were, too, in this state localities where
illiteraoy was the rule rather than the excep-
tlon. Mr.. Stearns was Of the opinion that
In communities where the voters were igno-
rant and had to apply for assistance under
this law they would bs placed In the power
Of bosses and ring men. As an argument
In favor of the bill, 1t had been said that the
system had been adopted In many states. To
this Mr.. Stearns replied that In his opinion
before two years were over other states.
which now had this system would have seen
the evil of It's working and repealed it. Take
| the case Of Canada, where this system has
been In operation for years and you find rail-
road corporations. cabinet ministers and
other influences accused of bribery. In re-
gard to the great public sentiment, said to be
In favor of this bill. Mr.. Stearns said that 1t
was the duty of the legislature. IL necessary,
TO be the bulwark against public sentiment.
Mr.. Harrington Of Norridgewock spoke
briefly in explaining his opposition to the
measure.
Mr.. Cote Of Biddeford said that the gentle
man from Norridgewock, while discussing
bill before the House yesterday, urged that
1t be passed because, 1t might be, do a little
towards the enforcement Of the prohibitory
laws. Now he would not support this bill
because 1t would not entirely do away with
an evil. position which Mr.. Cote wanted
explained. The gentleman from Caribou
had said something about elections in Can
ada. Mr.. Cote had lived in Canada for 10
years. and knew that the people there would
never go back to the old system Of elections.
He thought the gentleman from Caribou had
probably never been In Canada. The gentle
man had referred to the grievance of people
In some parts of the state. Such people had
sent the member from Caribou here year af-
ter year and here was the thanks they re-
ceive for it. But the gentleman had said be-
fore number Of gentlemen at the Augusta
House that II this bill was passed
he could not come back any more
Notwithstanding the statements Of the
gentleman from Caribou. another member
from that section had said that the people
wanted the system. The question of igno-
norance did not seem to be evenly balanced.
Mr.. Cote said that If 1t was to be argued
against the bill that 1t did not entirely do
away with fraud, we might as well tear
down the state prison and let offenders 90
unpunished because the law did not now en-
tirely prevent murder and other crimes.
Mr.. Porter Of Bangor read from the edito-
rial printed In the PRESS stating that the
question was not one Of partisan politics,
and adding that in future care should be
taken in the election Of representatives to
secure men who would represent the wishes
Of their party. Mr.. Porter wanted to know
If this meant that one of the Portland rep
resentatives. young man who had come
here and voted as his conscience dictated,
was to be kept at home.
Mr.. Gray Of Bucksport announced that he
should vote for this measure. although he
had voted against 1t before. He did this be.
cause he believed that what was good for
him was good for his neghbor, and because
he believed that this bill was just what was
wanted In Maine. This little speech was re-
ceived with loud applause.
Mr.. Peaks of Dover was the next speaker.
He said that after he had made speech upon
this bill when 1t was before the House be-
fore. it was said that he had advanced no ar
gument against It, He had said that the op-
tional clause would throw a frebrand into
the small towns and now in this amended
Dill he found the optional clause removed.
lie had claimed that section 20 of the bill
was unconstitutional. and now he found that
section 20 was withdrawn. But he did not
understand why in preparing the new draft
OF the measure all the members Of the Judi
clary committee had not been asked to take
part Mr.. Peaks continued, In reference to
Ia - a.. n.
been quoted as saying, while speaking of a
young man from Portland, that while Col
Peaks was fighting the battles of his country,
this young man was "Mewling and puking in
his nurses arms" Mr.. Peaks would say to
to the senator from Arosstook that that was
not his language. but was used many years
ago by gentleman of the name of William
Shakespeare. Mr.. Peaks road from an ex-
tract from the Hartford Courant, Senator
Hawley's paper, warning Maine Repab-
licans against hasty action on this
subject. 1t was said that Gov. Burleigh was
for this bill and If what MIR. Peaks had
heard was correct the Governor was undIgnl-
fed in his support Of It. 1t was also said
that the leaders of both political parties
were for the bill. 1t was amusing to Mr..
Peaks to see these leaders tumbling over
each other to see who could catch this poll
tical soap bubble first. Mr.. Peaks himself
had been asked why he did not Join the pro-
cession. He had replied that he would IL it
| was not to be led to the rear. The speak er
| then branched Off to the article printed in the
Kennebec Journal and, like Judge Stearns,
| said that the Journal had endorsed 1t. That
| article referred to those who opposed this
measure as the elements which discredlted
and disgraced the Republican party. Mr.
Peaks feelingly alluded to his own services
| in recent campaigns both of time and money
| and to his unanimous nomination by the
Republicans of his district Closing his re-
marks with the query, Great God, is this
| the feast to which we are invited?"
| Judge Savage OF Auburn regretted that the
opponents of the bill in the discussion of the
measure upon the floor of the House. had
seen fit to descend to personalities. The
debate should be conducted in higher
plane. and Judge Savage accorded to the op-
ponents OF the bill honesty of purpose In
| their course, but he said that remarkable
features had been introduced into the debate.
For the first time In his knowledge of the
proceealngs OF the legislature. Republicans
had found It necessary to oppose the trend
OF the Republican press throughout the state
and country and then complain because they
were criticized. 1t was true that unwise and
untrue things had been said, which he depre-
cated, but gentlemen must not now find fault
II their actions were commented upon and
the truth was told. Judge Savage had never
known case where the governor had been
so attacked on the floor of the House. He
was not here to defend the governor because
that was not necessary. The chief magis-
trate had been given his Office by the wisdom
and power of the Republican party and need.
ed NO defence. The gentleman from
Dover complained that he had
not been consulted In preparing the
changes In the bill. The gentlemen who sign
ed the minority report of the committee had
all along refused to have the matter brought
before the House. Now. when the bill had
come to the House, as Republican measure
adopted by Republican votes, they still said
no. They were still opposed 10 any and al
bills. After the Senate, SO strongly Repub
lican, had set its seal upon the bill, 1t could
no longer be called Democratic measure
The gentleman from Dover had read from
the Hartford Courant, but had not told the
whole story. The bill adopted at the elev
enth hour in Connecticut was not the Aus
tralian ballot bill. 1t was far different law
Mr.. Savage referred to the action Of thu
Dexter town meeting. and the Aroostool
Grange, and quoted from letters from Blu,
Hill and Woodstock to show that public sen
timent demanded the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Littlefeld OF PenObscot, read similar
testimony from his town.
Mr.. Drew Of Fort Fairfield, denied that thu
action OF the Grange truthfully represented
the sentiment In Ar0ostook county.
MIR. Smith OF Turner, explained that M