Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-26
Chasing Lies to Their Hole.

his party to deceive the voters of Maine
by the Juggling Of figures and the dis
tortion of facts remarked to Republic
can friend. the other day, well, If
these things are not so, why do you
people spend so much time contradict
ing Them"
Sure enough. Why not allow the
Justification factory at Democratic
Headquarters to send it's wares broad
cast without interference? Why not
allow it's agents a free field in their e.
forts to convince the people that Re-
n,blican rule has injured the State.
that State taxation is a burden that
the valuation has been 'jacked up
that appropriations have been IN
creased in extravagant fashion, thal
Maine is on the verge of everlasting
ruin? Why bother, anyway, to rlddie
with the solid shot of truth the scare
crow stuffed with straw which the
Democrats have set up in the centre OF
the stage?
No doubt, things would be much
more comfortable for the Democrats IL
their tables We're not shattered ana
their statements mangled beyond rec
opnition nv contact with the merciless
truth, but they can hardly expect the
Ranuhlicans to be so obliging as to
snare them embarrassment and humll-
iation. The Democratic theory is that
, lie will travel SO fast that the truth
which is sent out in pursuit VIII not
oyertake it, but it can hardly work in
this campaign. Figure and
MISREPRESENTATION may stir up some
thing of a temporary sensation which
serves to tickle the vanity of the per-
formers, but such methods cannot be
successful i'm a campaign for the votes
of the intelligent people of Maine.
In justice to their own Maine record.
to the people OF Maine in general. and
to the fair name of the State, the Re-
publicans have answered promptly,
fairly and fully the charges upon which
the Democrats are basing their cam
paign on State issues. The facts and fig
ures given i'm the campaign supplement
issued n few days ago. gave such an
answer, and the Democrats have not
ventured to put in any evidence in re-
taken from official sources and they
contradict fatty and with unanswera-
bic emphasis the Democratic charge of
extravaganza in State expenditures
during the past 20 years. They show
that in that period the State debt has
been cut from $4.17S,714 to s1,653,000,
and the State tax rate from Az mills to
a%. mills. Does this look like poor stew
| ardship? They show that the burden
| of State taxation has been further
| lightened for the towns and cities of
Maine SO that where they paid $1,055,
$50 in State taxes in 1882. they paid
s941, 459. or s113,S29 less, in 1903. They
show that while the towns have thus
been paying less and less into the State
treasury they have been getting more
and more out of it, receiving only
1908 for school fund and mill tax, rail
road and telegraph tax, soldiers pen
sions. support of paupers, improve
ment of roads, etc. They show tina
instead of "jacking up" the valuation
the State assessors have made an in
crease of but 121a per cent. since 1890
while the local assessors have made al
increase of 90 per cent. in that sam,
period. They show that the deposits
in the savings banks and trust compa
MES of Maine have increased $13,SS0,
1876 in 20 years? Does not this look a
though the people of Maine had pros
pered under Republican rule? The.
show that the salaries Of State officials
| in Maine are lower tfan IN Othe
states, and that the only increase o
Importance, that of the salaries of tn
justices of the Supreme court, wa!
warmly supported by Mr.. Davis, thu
Democratic nominee for Governor wht
was then a member of the Legislature
They show that the money for the pro
lection of game comes wholly from
outside the State, and not a cent from
the people of Maine who profit so large
ly from this protection. They SHOW
that the adjustment of the fee sys
tenn was first urged by Governor Hill
and is now pledge of the Republican
platform. They show that wher,
the schools of Maine got s356,723 from
the State i'm 1882, they got $777,465 il
1908. They show that the State CLOSED
the year Of 1908 with every dollar 0
temporary Indebtedness paid and will
the splendid cash balance of $637,67S il
the treasury. They show that whel
tine proper deductions are made for tn