Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-23
WATERVILLE.
THE cAUCUsES.
Republicans Renominate Mar
tin BIaisdeII as Candidate.
The Democrats Will Have Cyrus W.
Davis for Their Leader.
The Republican Meeting the Largest
in 20 Years.

BothI the Republican and Democratic
caucuses for the nomination of candi-
dates for mayor were held, Saturday
evening, the former being in the City
Opera house and the latter in the
Armory. The Republican meeting, as
one prominent member of the party
said was the largest that has been held
i'm the city for 20 years and this in view
of the fact that there was no contest,
whaeYer, over the nomination in sight.
There was something of a bluff sprung
just before the caucus, but this really
didn't cut any figure with the attend
ance.9
The caucus was called to order by
Colby Getchell chairman of the city
committee, and Hon. William T. Haines
was chosen to preside with John E.
Nelson as secretary. On taking the
chair Mr.. Haines made a short speech.
In opening he said that he never was
so proud of the Republican party in the
country, the State, and the county as
at present and ne was especially proud
of the administration of affairs under
the management of the party in the
city during the past year. He knew
that every good business man in the
city believed that it had been a good
and an economical administration as
not a single dollar had been wasted,
lost or misappropriated. He then went
on to compare the city to a great cor
poration, calling it the greatest in the
city, doing the most business and hand
ling the most money.
From this he passed to the remark
able growth of the city within the past
20 years. Two decades ago when he
first came here the place was one of
about 5000 people. There were then no
paved streets, no asphalt sidewalks, no
water system and no sewers while the
valuation was small. Within sinble
generation all of these things have
been acquired. He believed that the
tax payers of Waterville got more for
their money than ever before in the
history of the city and more than in
any other place in the State. He did
not believe that any one would give
up the advantages and improvements
that have been obtained and for the
support of which the taxes are paid for
the sake of having back the rate that
was paid 20 years ago when there were
none of these things.
He stated that the overseer of the
poor had told him that in 1895 it cost
the city $4,000 to conduct this depart
ment and that it would only be about
$4,000 this year. These figures show
that the people of the city are pros
pering and that there are few poor
that require assistance from the public
funds. Under Republican manage
ment the State finances had been
brought into a splendid condition as
had also those of the county. The in
divdual burdens were being steadily
reduced all the time.
Republican victory in the city
would strengthen the party in the
county, the State and the country and
help to maintain the policy that was
proving so successful everywhere. He
then spoke strongly against the folly of
seeking a change in administration
simply for the sake of a change. If the
of a corporation were doing
good work making good dividends pos
sible paying good wages to their en-
ployes and making everything count for
the best interests of the business ne did
not believe that the shareholders would
route them ont simply for the purpose
of trying a change for an experiment
He believed the same principal applied
to municipal affairs and that there was
certainly no need Of change here, this
year.
Hon. Warren c. Philbrook then took |
the floor In opening he stated that it
was the largest Republican caucus he
had seen in 90 years. During the past /,
year more money had been raised by
taxation than ever before and more !,