Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-03-02
The Democratic Manifesto.

( Inc Democratic Manifesto.
The manifesto issued by the Demo
Gratis Of Augusta lit their city caucus
last evening. is sonorouH In its Ian
guaae. II has the Old familiar sound
I ana the usual Misrepresentation nf
facts. Il is interesting. but not con
| vincing. II hurla dcnnan,r ana nm-
braces. in its compr, hcusive scope
cept the grocery stores ana the milli-
/ nary establishments. The burden Of
the song appears To BE- that our STATE
, officials, III" gentlemen connected with
our various corporate interests. ana
those who have built up large. publish
ing hous-s-all of which furnish en-
ployment for our citizens. have been
guilty OF taking an active interest IN
our municipal affairs We'll. why not?
They are all taxpayers. Their names
are down on our voting lists. their To-
cal interests are those of the com
munity. ana no movement FOR the COM
mon good has ever been started in our
city in recent years that dii not have
behind il the solid support OF their good
citizenship and public spirit. our water
plant is one of the best in New Eng
land. Since il was installed destruc-
tive fires have been almost unknown in
our city. ana there are few municipali-
ties that secure so fine a hydrant ser
vice on 50 favorable terms, or free wa
ter for the running OF drinking foun-
I, tains and the flushing of sewers. More
than that the company is under
agreement never to raise its rates
70 private users. our electric
light plant both in its equipment
and service. is a credit To the city. and
the general patronage il receives is the
best possible proof Of the extent to
which il ministers To the public need.
The fact that there IL not single
private gas machine in this city shows
how completely the local gas plant
meets the demands of the community
for this service. Every citizen knows
now much Augusta owes to the Ed
wards Manufacturing Company. whose
immense pay roll is such vital factor
in the business life Of the city. It
has. as everyone knows always
been conducted upon strictly business
principles. The men whose business
enterprise has built up great publish
ing houses employing hundreds of peo-
pie in our city. certainly deserve the
just appreciation of our people. and it
is a matter Of just pride that their
character and abilities have been rec
ognzed in the county and the State as
well as in their own home community.
1t is usually the fate of men who have
an active interest in public affairs to
be called politicians and collectively
they are pretty sure to figure in the
heated imaginations Of their political
opponents as Il ring" But, everyone
knows how much our city owes to the
men who have actively Interested
themselves in it's affairs. and how loyal
they have ever been to its interests
Augusta has made marked progress in
many ways. 1t has vastly better sew
ers. better streets, better Sidewalks
better service in every department of
its municipal life than it had de
cade ago. A modern steel bridge spans
our river, and a modern building furn-
officials. All these things have cost
money-but they came because the peo-
pie wanted them-and who is there
among all our citizens, today, who
would wish to be without them?
But. really, we are treating this
manifesto of our Democratic brethren
too seriously. 1t is essentially naive
and entertaining bit of political pleas
antry. We can imagine that it's read |
ing evoked some aughter-inwardly |
at least-as well as applause. 1t is a
huge joke; but after all. in view of its
sensible conclusion, it may be forgiven.
In reaching this result the Democrats
of Augusta have acted wisely and we'll
The Republican ticket will be the only
one in the field; but it is a good one.
composed of gentlemen in whose care
the interests of our city will be safely !
guarded. and wisely administered