Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-07
mArnIEs0N's TRIAL.
CONTINUED from page ~
in many instances they are fast de-

in many Instances they are fast de-
creasing. IH5.
Under the old law it was impossible
TO get money enough for sufficient
number Of wardenA. 1t was at one time
proposed to make every guide war
den. but this was abandoned. There is
nothing so bad, you know, as a poacn-
ing warden. But why not, we argued.
impose light duties on the guides and
allow them chance to protect them
selves If they honestly wish to stop
Illegal killing. Under the license sys-
tenn if guide were honest he had
club raised over the sportsman, and If
dishonest the commissioners held the
club.
THE bill was then drafted and in
troduced and then the guides came
swooping down upon us. Our eyes
opened, We gazed in astonishment.
Why did they all come to object? We
sought to find reason. The bill couli
hurt no honest man. We asked them
all their reasons for opposition, AMI
either my mind is so small or ] am 50
dull of comprehension that can't see
things as they are, but never have /
heard a logical reason advanced why It
should not be made law. They sal
they did not want to wear dogs col
lar, nor be branded as guides, but there
seemed to me only the strained reasons
OF a man looking for something to kick
at.
when the controversy was on. Mr..
Carleton arranged for half-fare on all
railroads 80 that the remonstrants might
be heard. We wanted to get the honest
sentiment OF the people. At the hearing
some of the opponents grew hot under
the collar and said things which embar
rassed their own position more than any
thing We could have advanced. Gen.
Newcomh attended the hearing. and after
1t was over said 10 me: OAK. never
have thought much of this BILL but after
hearing some Of those fellows talk, We
decided that you want a guides law and
| think you want a blamed sight stronger
one than you're after
"Mathieson came before the committee
ana IN the course Of his talk said II
tits bill ever becomes q law. | will never
obey IT,. This was In answer to a direct
question. and when asked over. he re-
peated tx several times.
soon after the bin passed, the Range
ley Lakes Guides Association voted 10
resist the law. Hearing of this. MIR,
Stanley and myself went 20 Rangeley to
talk things over candldiy. We asked II
We might meet the guides and they c0ur-
toously invited las into their Meeting
posi- hhAiNl hHtH lctilts% ana rs kNff us 40
talk, Mathiesou repeated his remark
about not oheying he law, but We did not
take him to task Tor II. as We were there
for peace. not war. This was on Sat
urday night. Everything went well until |
Sunday noon. The guides were becoming
more pliable, and one made an appl.ca
ti1H for a license This being mentioned |
10 MathEeson, he besought them 10 stand
by him and refrain from registering.
Later the association rescindei their |
former vote and voted 70 guide TIL July
! and then quit. In the last days of June |
applied for a license.
We Were disposed TO pass over what |
he said at Augusta before the passage OF |
the bill, recognizing the right 81 every
citizen TO oppose On Objectionable meas
are, but In view of his oft-repeated avow- |
as THAI he would not obey the law. We
thought 1t only just and proper that he
should retract his statements made since |
the bill became law, or be refused his |
license. We then wrote him that we |
would hear his case at the time we held |
The tshway hearing at R9ngeiey The |
latter took so much time. however. thai |
We talked it over with him on the boat |
going down 10 Upper Dam.
Il finally put 1t this way:
Mr., MathieSon. we viii regard ev-
eiy thing which has happened up to the |
present time as wiped OUT; will read |
you the second section OF the guides
license law. which is as follows:
Section Each registered guide shall |
b. the commissioners. forward state |
nent TO them of the number of persons |
be has guided in inland fishing and TOR |
est hunting during the time called for III |
said statement. the number OF days he |
has been employed as At guide, and such |
other useful information relative 10 the |
INLAND fish and game, forest fires and the |
preservation of the forests in the locali- |
ties where he guided. as the commission |
cIs may deem of Importance to the State.
If you say that you will uueauivo- |
e lily abide by this. you will receive your |
license.
He said in reply; If you ask a lot of |
questions, as it is reported that |
You Will. | shall tell you it is none of |
your business.
This was the most satisfactory answer |
could get out of him. though | labored |
nearly TWO hours We wanted to register |
him If we consistently could. Finally, be- |
ing unable to get anything satisfactory |
from him. | gave him back his dollar and |
said he never would be registered by us
unless the court compelled us-as long as |
he held his present views