Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-05
Exercise Conoho0 Sense.

+ At the eleventh hourtthe Democrats
ARE endeavoring to gain little polit-
ical advantage from the agitation over
the poor department in this city
Democratic organs, that have main
tanned profound silence respecting
that department since, under Demo
cratic administration, the work of the
chairman of the board was found good
in their eyes and he was reelected and
the present superintendent of the farm
was installed in his position, now burst
forth in professedly righteous indigna-
ton. 1t is ridiculous If one stops to
think of it. and that is just what the
Journal would urge the voters to do.
Regarding that agitation over the poor
department the only sensible demand
is. let the facts be known. No one can
ask more. Moreover this demand was
not first made by those who vote the
Democratic ticket, and a Republican
mayor and city council have provided
way for the investigation desired by
the appointment Of d committee made
up of two Republicans and two DEM
ocrats. Whether or not there be good
grounds for the charges it is absolutely
certain that they We're not actuated by
the slightest desire for partisan ad-
vantage and to attempt to use them
SO now. if successful, cap operate only
to put a partisan gag in the mouth Of
every citizen, who hereafter may be-
lieve certain wrongs are being done
somewhere in the conduct of municipal
protest. This agitation has been out of
politics, is out and should be scrupu-
lousy kept out.
But some one says, and by the way
he is rare individual. fortunately.
we are Republicans. but we wish to en-
ter a protest, and II we vote the Dem
ocratic ticket we can do it." You can
do nothing of the sort. The record Of
the parties in this city proves 1t.
Whenever a Democratic admnistra-
ton has been tried for one year the
people have been SO Disguised that
they have invariably taken the first
opportunity to return the Republicans
to power Let the voters bear these
things in mind. The simplest elements
of justice and the rudments of COM
mon sense insist that the people of the
city recognize that the poor depart
ment question is out of politics and
that it should stay out. Nor should
partisan body. the board of trade. de-
liberated long and earnestly over ways
to improve the city charter and among
the changes finally recommended by
that board is one relating to the poor
providing, for one over
seer who shall be neither directly or
indirectly interested in furnishing sup
plies, and a method has been adopted
!
the voter may express his
opinion respecting those proposed
changes separately. If voter believes
in that proposition and not in the 9TH
ers he can so vote. If he believes in
none of them he has similar privilege
If this article does not meet with his
he can find no other pro-
posed remedy by turning to the Dem
ocrats. who suggest no remedies and
would be incapable of applying any.
The Journal is not urging these facts
upon the attention of it's readers in the
that any considerable
number of Republicans can be per-
suaded by cheap and transparent
Democratic devices to vote that ticket
on Monday. or that the Republican
ticket will not be overwhelmingly en-
dorsed at the polls. But we do wish to
call attention to the mischief which
the Democratic politicians are endeav-
Oring to do and to the need of rebuk-
ing it most emphatically.