Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-20

ad last year. There was nitch ihe
yesv first thing over the election OF a
chairman. w. c. Philbrook was first
nominated for the Office but declined,
wing that he was present simply as
a snectator. Then G. w. Davis was
elected and accepted. There was an
other hitch over the selection OF a sec
rotary. G. A. Kennison was the Hrst
choice but he declined. Then Judge f.
X. Shaw declined and Fl. d. Bates was
chosen.
After the election of the secretary,
Mr. Davis made a speech. He brlei1y
compared the conditions at the caucus,
last wear. and at the one, last evening.
He said that It was apparent that
change had come over the spirit of the
dream. He believed that the business
affairs and those of the police depart
ment had been entirely satisfactory.
In closing he declared that he believed
that if a candidate for mayor was
nominated at the meeting he should De
one who would stand clearly, squareiy
and unequivocally on the platform
marked out for him and one who would
carefully guard the interests or the
city.
Mr. Davis then called upon Mr.. Bates
for a brief statement of what had been
accomplished by the Citizen movement
during the past year, but Mr. Bates
did not think it necessary as all pres
ent were doubtless already familiar
with that. Then there was long
pause when each one waited to see
what the other fellow would do. 1t
looked as if there would be an untime-
| " death in the vicinity, but this was
| postponed for a time by II. r. Mitchell
with short speech.
Mr.. Mitchell said that the Citizen
| city government started in with the
policy of reducing the tax rate of the
city and the debt The tax rate had
been 23k mills, the highest with one
exception perhaps in the history of the
city. But with this all the departments
had been properly cared for. About
$2S, 900 had been expended on the new
City building and the debt had been re-
duced by about $1,000 while $500 had
been expended on the Western Avenue
school building. There had been some
a good deal, he thought, of reform in
the police department. The objection
able features of a municipal election
had been reduced to a minimum, last
spring. All the business of the govern
ment had been carried on with the best
Of good feeling. There had been no
reference so far as he knew to party
lines in anything that had been done
and there had ben no Partially shown
on account of parties. In closing Mr..
Mitchell said that he could not see why
if there was a good reason for the
movement. last year, that there was
not, this year, and he moved that the
meeting proceed to the nomination OF
a candidate for mayor.
Charles F. johnson followed Mr..
| Mitchell. He said that the gathering
could not be called a caucus as the le-
gal notice had not been given. If a
nomination We're made petition would
have to be signed by at least % in order
to get the name of the candidate onto
ballot. He concurred with what Mr.
Mitchell had said. He thought that af-
ter one years trial of the movement
considerable progress had been made
He then mentioned briefly the independ-
ent movement which has just been
started. In closing he said that he be-
lieved that the candidates of the Citi-
zen party should not accept nomina-
ton from other parties. Mr.. johnson
was applauded when he had finished
speaking.
F. w. Clair was the next speaker. He
said that he believed that the men who
| went into the Citizen movement, last
year, We're influenced by an honest pur-
pose. He thought that there had been
less of strife and less of degradation in
municipal politics under the new re-
gime. He had no criticism to make of
the management of affairs in any de-
partment. But he had found that in
the caucuses which We're held, Tuesday
| evening, that the Republican support
had been withdrawn from the move
ment When the movement was inaug-
urated. last year, the Democrats had
asked for nothing but had been willing
| to take whatever was given them. No
party advantage had been asked for
and none obtained. The party was in
the same position, this year, but it had
been left in the lurch and he was not
willing to sink his party in the move
ment any longer. He should oppose the
nomination of candidate for mayor
and would go into the Democratic eau
cuses and vote to nominate straight
Democratic candidates. The Demo-
Gratis present heartily applauded these
| sentiments.
| DR.. f. l.. Jones delivered the sofa
plexus blow by moving an adjournment
and the motion was seconded. Mr.
| MitcheIrs motion had the precedence
but he withdrew it and the motion pre-
vailed. So now the Citizen party that
was strong enough to carry the city,
| last year. finds itself with ward candi-
dates in four wards and that is all.
Just what may be done with these is
uncertain. The petitions may be made
out and the tickets entered at the cleo
ton but it looks as if one of the four
participants in the coming election had
been knocked out.
The Independent party will have to
go onto the ballot by petition so the
only caucuses now left are the straight
Democratic and Republican. The lat
ter will be held, this evening. and the
former. Friday evening, whilegthe GEN
erals Of both parties will be held, Sat-
urday evening. The burning political
question now is who will be the candi-
dates of the old parties for mayor.
Mrs. Alice Hall.