The Somerset reporter., 1900-02-01
Number s
For be RaPoErKR.
Speaker for roth Legislature.

~ ~ f@AFBHFhE
Speaker for 10th Legislature.
Already much i1ferest II seing show
throughout tie s.ate in the mskc.ee ~
be 70.h Legislature. which ilia..e,as,a
January Let, 1907. The business mn.
Farmers, mechanics and laboring mer
are tsklng Unprecedented interest In the
political questions If the dav. and
especially 10 the question: Of tsxsfise
which will undoubtedly receive the mot
careful attention Of the next legislature.
II therefore beho0Vea the voters and
taxpayers to exercise great care IN the
choice Of Candidates to represent hem In
that body.
While this is one important branch 10
be looked after, there il another para
mount % It. Legislation depeLd. large.
ly upon the personnel OF ule various
committees Of the House. Hence the
Importance which ceuters around the
choice Of Speaker. Upon hin cevolYes
the sponsibiIify Of the formation Of all
Commuters. He alone ia responsible Tor
their make up. and he should be man
/ Il vide experience and thorough bust
ness qualifications, entirely unbiased BY
personal motive. and interests. looking
only for The be-; good Of the greatest
number.
Somerset County has such candidate
in Edward y. Merrill. z q. Of skoahe-
gan, Who 20 ably and satisfactorily rep
resented his district in the 50 h Legis-
lsture that be will be the IN phatic choice
Tor the 70. h, man 10 whom the sound
judgment and practical wisdom Of the
successful business man i united gith
the broad culture and keenuess of IL
tellect which has given him high rank ia
BIS profession, aud gained for him the
cor fidence Of all. His position in the
69ih Legislature upon the question Of
taxation WAS broad and comprehensive,
showing thorough acquaintance with
the subject and clear knowledge Of the
unequal burdens borne by the different
classes of property. That reform is
needed Is apparent from all quarters of
the State. Aud no man in the e9th
Legislature sounded the keynote with
more marked ability than Mr.. Merrill
At the present time we know of but
one other candidate for the position,
Hon. Joseph Il. Marley Of Augusta, the
present Chairman of the State Committee
aud member of the Republican Nation.
al Committee. The contest between
these two gentlemen promises to be
sharp one. Both are possessed Of such
qualities that hen they once enter upon
an undertaking, they do il with a de-
termination to win.
Many of Mr.. Merrill's friends from ali
over the State, claim lhat,he should be
supported for the position upon grounds
that appeal, as they say, to fair dis
tribution Of the Offices TO the various
parts OF the State. They say that
Augusta has the representative 10 Con-
gress aud the Secretary of State. and
will have for another term that the
only candidate for Staa Treasurer ia
from kenBebec County, aud that to the
Hon. John F. Hill Of Augusta are con-
eeded the gubernatoriai honors. Hence
they claim that Augusta aud Kennebec
County ought to be fairly satisfied with
out laying claim to the Speakership
There i still another reason why
. Somerset County is entitled to the
, office. Stree the establishment of the
State she has never had the honor of
furnishing q Speaker of the House, while
kennebec has furnished ten. Upon the
grounds Of locality ard fair distribu-
ton Of the offiees, Somerset claims that
, she should be recognized. That Nj.
Merrill possesses al the qualifications
for the position cannot be questioned
and We bespeak for him The hearty sup
port Of the party. -