Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-02
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
manifesto Issued. and a Vote Taken n Nal.
No Nominations.

re democrats Of Augusta met in can.
Gus ~ city Han, last evening. 10 constde,
me advisability of putting in nomno,ion
" municipal ticket. About 50 We're nras-
eh'. Mr. William j. Skehao az ira ,.itv
committee called the catlc;,s ~ oraa,.
ana Hon. T J. Lynch was made chair
man ). $ Lancaster was chosen sacra-
'"'H' ne following manifesto was nrc.
"'"''" "N Mr.. f. w. Plalstca of The ,it,.
committee:
ne Democrats Of The city of A,orsto
~ caucus assembled. hereby enter thai,
pI"'cSt against the political system within
mas Tor Years controlled oup nIinin;,,i nv ". ~
t.l'"' ~ IN" interests Of local ReniI,li
81 p"iticians and for the benefit az nnr-
ioi'tIoiiS while IL neceSsa rilv opnrcssas
~. ~, si'"i mass OF our citizens by unjust
ana excessive taxation ''H'
ne Democratic party has fnr voor,. - i,
very erection presented To tn, citiz,ns 4 :
augusta candidates for office who wara
iitr rom 'orruptins corporation INN
'hccS ana who possessed abiIitv ana -,
ness To administer wisely. honestIr n,'I
conveniently the affairs OF our civ 4
u ioiltF 81 the voters OF Augusta blind
:" "H pdrIF prejudice. have. at each cleo
ho!l' r~1tcted them and continued i'm f,,II
'"htfoi n political ring which has f,t
ltHth Oh the revenues extorted from ~.
POCKETS Of The people. CITY governments
'''iN' N'dl SIltE year been elected
p|Seu oi servants of corporations; of ON
plo'"S % the State of Maine. whose inter
-, IN the city Of Augusta Is oniv 1hat III
'oJC Jrntrs, their residence Dependent hi
on holding office under the State govern
fneht' and of men who accepted these
places Of trust ut the hands of their fnl
Iow-c!tizens for the profit they m..nt
make out Of the Offices
This system against which the Demo
Gratis OF Augusta tmpha ticaIlv protest has
resulted i'm Inwise and extravagent ex-
itnd!t lures 81 pubic monies.-nearlY ~
per cent in the last decadc-with Tho
CONSEQUENT great increase in the bonded
dcDt, an eN'ortiunate rate Of taxation. an
Unfair and excessive valuation of lh,,
property Of the small taNpayers who con
stitute the bone. sincw ana strength 81
our community while great corporations
and influential Individuals have escaped
paving their inst share of the public bur
dcns
The Augusta Water 90. the Electric
Light Co. and the Gas company are all
controlled by politicians who take an ac-
tive nart IN th,. management OF the Re
publican iartT and have always rtpr,.-
sentatiNrS i'll IN" city government 10 io,n
after their interests Instead Of thas OF
thu Lcoplt.
The STATE IIuu--. with it, mvr;a ,,f nj
tacheS and u.lit "-tntdcrS. gathered from
all parts Of IN ''atr. Who's, an hut as-
Surtd litt-ieas" a. their positions has IN
'uced them 70 &" H. dp yoIias +, Sid-ncr.
in Augusta. hus al tat, YEAR; become An.
important factor IH local politics. These
men. servants u the State. inpc led
large ~ ~ jHr tNii-'l rt.- 81 one al The Re
FuhhCan factions. h1Nr been forced into
prominence in II mi, ip.l affairs ana "a
had. contrary - goo! taste ANA WIS.,, l.nii-
~. larS" sdar, IN controlling the. af-
fairs of this city. their temporary home
That great Stat Institution, the Maine
insane HOSPITAL, Win It's hundred non
resident voters H. another source Of
Ia a m
State employees haNc ha possible concern
for The best interests ~ Augusta. vet thi.
institution may ~ relied aeon at amy mti-
nicipal election to east an almost solid
vote for the candidates # the party IN
power.
The Edwards Manufacturing Company
with it's hundreds Of operatives which
but FOR the Democratic city government
of 1872 woIli have escaped the payment
during The past eight years of $35. 900
which were Justly due III taxes.-lt every
municipal election through the presence
Of its oVerSccrS ut ne polls helps to
make the election of an.ther Demucra tic
city government impossible. The great
publishing houses Of Augusta. with their
poWer.-in fact ar in IDticipat iuu.-Ilsp
form part Of the great political ma
chine which. located la Augusta domi-
mates the politics not only Of the ,ity but
OF county. district ana Statr.
This condition Of things AGAINST which
we protest. and which W. condemn. can
not EC changed ny Inc Democratic party
OF Augusta without the assistance Of all
good citizens VINO ar" uuinhuruced ~
lust for power ana plumber ana who de
sire only to see the affairs of this mimic
ipality administered in the interests OF
the taxpayers ana not for the profit Of
politicians.
To the end. therefore. that tn shack,cs
of party prejudice may be broken from
the hands of such of our fellow citizens
as have in the past voted u maintain the
present system simply because il wore
the garb of their PARTY. and I'm the hope
that they may the better awake to Il re-
alizing sense OF existing conditions, we.
the Democratic party or The city Of All
gusta. deem II to be for the future best
interests of our city 10 refrain from pla.-
ing in nomination candidates for mInici-
pal office at the coming election
The foregoing manifesto was adopted
by reclamation. after which the caucus
adjourned.