The Portland daily press., 1895-03-14
Especial to the PRESS. }

!
| Augusta, March l4.-The battle of Van
Buren,. the fist great engagement. and per-
haps the last of the second Aroostook War,
YVES fought today. Mr.. Keegan, who dis
claims any military title, led the Van
Buren, army. which consisted of himself and
Mr.. Daigle. Mr.. Beegan made a fierce as
| sault on the position of the other side, al
though it was as hopeless as the charge of
the famous six hundred at Balaklava. 1t
will be remembered that there is pending
an enabling act to allow the people of
Aroostook county to subscribe or 1928 600
preferred stock of the Bangor and Aroos-
took railway to enable it 10 build branch
to Ashland. Mr.. Keegan claims that the
road has broken faith with the people by
not building to Van Buren, and consequent
ly opposes the measure unless Van Buren, is
| included.
Mr. Keegan began like ali leaders of a
military movement by planning his cam
paign on map. He pointed out the various
positions 10 the House and said that there
was proposition to extend the Bangor and
Aroostook railroad across the country to
Ashland instead of building it to Van
Buren,, as was originally agreed. This was
to give value to the timber landH of the
European and North American railroad.
which were granted without consideration.
lis there one man from Ashland" said Mr..
Keegan, "who has come here asking that
you enable the people 10 give away
quarter of million dollars TO aid a wild
cat railroad? Is there one man who asks for
this privilege? say not one. This bill has
been lobbied here all winter. The people
l represent have employed no lobbyists.
They do not want them. and could not
afford them if they did. They are willing
to rely on the justice of their cause"
Mr.. Keegan denied that President Bur-
leigh of the bangor and Aroostook and
himself had been at odds over this matter.
He read letter from Mr.. Burlcigh express
ing the belief that the road should be built
to Van Buren, within reasonable time.
Mr.. Burleigh did not believe the wild land
owners should be taxed 10 help build the
road through The farming sections. nor
should the farmer be taxed to build rough
the wild lands. "We may not agree about
that" said Mr.. Keegan, ''but it is in the
letter. Mr.. Burleigh does not think that he
was i'll used or i'll treated by anything that
have said. Now what is the situation?
Does this bill come here backed up by the
people of Aroost ook! I have told you that
they are not in it. Does it come here backed
up uy the Aroostook delegation? Well.
know the bill was prepared in law Office
i'll Bangor. do not believe any member of
ire delegation will say that majority of
his constituents will vote for it,. That be-
ing SO there is no reason, gentlemen why
you should pass a measure that is as aDom-
niable and outrageous breach of faith as
any measure ever passed by a legislative
body. If at the call of lobby, gentlemen.
you vote us down then l say We have no
hope. The friends of the bill say they only
want the people TO vote upon it. Well. l
notice that that doesn't go down to any
great extent. MY friend from Bath wanted
he peopieto vote on the question of result
mission and only thirteen members of the
Legislature favored it. 1t WAS the same
with Judge Savage's amendment. Why,
gentl enien. we have a Constitution and a
legislature to prevent the people voting on
every foolish proposition "
Mr.. Keegan said that the people might be
deceived and tricked into voting for what
would do them grevious wrong. They said
The cup was poison, but let the dear people
vote upon it. 1t was as poisonous rs if
brewed by the three witches of Mac beth in
a law Office in Bangor. And they not only
wanted the people to vote Tut they We're
willing that they should vote twice. My
friend from Limestone did not want the
people OF Deering O vote on the question OF
its annexation 20 Portland, but he is willing
that the people of Aroostook should vote a
second time when by bribery OF other means
men might be won over to the other side.
The people have already voted to build to
Van Buren. Now gentlemen if the vote of
the people Is. SO sacred, why do you re-
ject the first vote? They told US that they
would bnild to Van Buren, to make con-
nection with the Grand Trunk. and now
they say they do not want to make any con-
nections. Now, gentlemen. what do we ask?
We ask that if you do let the people vote on
this matter. as We hope you will not, you
will require the railroad company to grade
its line 80 Van Buren, as WAS agreed
Mr.. Keegan read from the laws of 1888 to
show that it had been stipulated that the
road should be built to Van Buren,. He
argued that faith had not been kept with
hat town and offered amendments to the
bill TO require that Van Buren's claims
should he recognized. MIR. Keegan got con-
sidera Bile applause when he closed.
Mr.. i eague of Canton rallied the forces
MY SISTERS,