Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-15
10 keenly the iron hand of taxation as

30 keenly the iron hand of taxation as
in this year of grace.
Never in the history OF the State
were the corporations and the lobby SO
strongly entrenched under the dome
of the Capitol, and in no State, so far
as / know, is 1t SO difficult to secure
competitive transportation facilities
without which growth Is impossible.
Never for a generation back were we
at such low ebb as regards our repre-
sentation in Congress; and this in spite
Of our natural advantages Of soil. of
water power, Of sea coast. of climate.
and of that priceless conception Of citi
zenship, characteristic of a true son Of
Maine, that the nation and the State
rests securely in the home.
Never in the history Of the State
were we so burdened and bowed down
by the fee system and by useless
Offices and office holders. Nor is this
all, we turn a yet darker page in the
political history of the State and, to
our shame and humiliation be it said.
no like population on the face of the
globe can show such wholesale nullifi-
cation of law, such substitutiOns for
the plain provisions of law, such les
sons in bad citizenship, as have been
shown by the retaining In the statute
books and in the constitution Of the
so-called prohibitory laws against the
manufacture and sale Of Intoxicating
liquors; which laws have not prohibited
and do not now prohibit, but which. In
their abuse by the Republican party.
have done more TO perpetuate ring
rule in Maine than any other agency
invoked by that party
The same old story. say our oppo-
nents. Yes! But it's true. and We
propose to ring the changes on 1t from
today until the ballots go into the box.
and no citizen Of this commonwealth
shall cast his ballot in ignorance of
the issues.
Az these issues will be discussed
from the lakes to the Atlantic, and from
now until September. shall not go in
to them at any length before this con-
vention. There are a few of them.
however, it would be we'll for you to
look at through Republican eyes; and
then pass them along to the people.
The Hon. Bert NJ. Fernald. who came
within 80 votes Of contrasting the nomi-
nation with Mr.. Cobb, offered to the
voters Of Maine the following bit of
Republican history, and l have not yet
seen his statement contradicted by the
ring:
Il am frank to say that I believe our
appropriation of State funds has in
creased out of all proportion to our
growth in wealth or population. This
marvellous increase Is not wholly the
work of the last Legislature. but has
been constantly growing. until the more
conservative taxpayers believe some
thing should be done to retard its prog
ress. 1t is sometimes suggested that
the State tax Is an unimpOr-
tant matter and that it makes
little difference whether it be- for
few hundred thousand dollars
more or less. But taxes are always a
burden and after a careful cOnsidera-
ton Of the matter all candid persons
will agree that it does make a vast
difference. We speak of these matters
often as generalities. but if you will
refer to the report OF the State treas
urer, II can be readily proven that
the matter deserves more than pass
ing notice. / will not attempt to take
up the years consecutively. but will
call attention to the phenomenal in
crease in expenditures since 1890. In
that year the appropriation was: