The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-04-06
THE TRAIuN6 ARBUTUS
What Was Said of it in the Maine Legis-
lature.

Bridgton News, was one making it a
misdemeanor to pull up the trailing ar
butus by the roots if the roots ex-
tended to another persons land. Reed
of Portland, the acknowledged wag of
the House, got after it in such a way
as to incite deal of merriment. He
explained at the outset tina the discuss
ed it mainly to enable him to get at
the little mouse of paternalism which
has been gnawing at the rights of the
people, Said he:
bills have been passed, which pro-
hibit one from getting near to many
brooks for fishing. stopping ice fishing
in this and that pond. But this is a
mouse of a different nature. The
others have to do with the fish and
game, while this is more of field
mouse. This move in new dlrec-
ton. 1t is a movement to prevent the
taking of wild flowers. l do not be-
lieve that it has ever before been at
tempted in this State. Without doubt
some of you will vote to make criminals
of your children after May Is next.
Innocently, when wandering through
the woods, they may pull up one OF
these roots and then, If the law passes.
they are criminals and subject to all
sorts of fearful and dire punishments.
Gentlemen, this desire to protect is
something fearful. Its germs, once
fastened to a matter, do many strange
and unavoidable things. | think that
this is one of them"
There are not many men, who will
dare to take their line and rod and go
across the fields and fish for trout in
some brook, without the fear in their
- II no 10
they will not be able to tell what the
laws are regarding that particular
brook. Honestly, gentlemen, l wouldn't
dare to do it myself. If | did there
would be ten chances of my getting In
to Jail to one of my getting fish.
I'VE number our little fishes and turn
them over to the tender care of the
commissioners and their wardens. If
we want to go fishing we consult the
warden or, mayhap, the commissioner,
and then we get this little book which
the State is having printed at the rate
of AZ cents thousand ems some Of
you may know what that means)
(laughter). And it sets us straight as
to the colored fly we should use when
we fish in the Rangeleys. But, gentle
men, it does not stop there. You may
be sure of that. 1t tells us when the
close time is on the angle worms of the
raging Mooselookmeguntic. 1t is a
wonderful book, is this little book with
the red covers. At the present time
the nimrod of the State may 60 out in
to the woods and fields and shoot the
woodchuck, and, yes, the hedgehog. |
believe that they are the only two ami
mails which they can kill without
danger of violating some of these
wonderful laws And they can shoot
that great bird, the horned owl, the
small owl, and the boot owl, but they
cannot shoot the crow.
Il assure you, fellow members of the
legislature, that the crow is game
bird-only Immediately after cleo
ton"
ALREADY, the rumbling Of discomfort
is heard and it comes from the
rural districts, where they still feel
that they have the right of liberty. II
this thing continues they may send
people here who will have their inter-
ests at heart and then there will be
changes. And, say to you now, that
when they begin changing, the acts
won't read to amend but will read TO
| repeal.
''If this comes about there will be
swept away many good law with the
bad ones. In that event Maine will be
the sufferer. We've been great for EN-
forcement this winter, but hant as
may in this bill | can find nothing
which provides for the enforcement of
the provisions of the law. Therefore,
| would suggest that we provide for a
commission of three men to be appoint
ed by the governor, and to have salary
of $500 per year, an office in Augusta,
and they to have the power to appoint
deputies, all to be known as the COM
missioners and deputies for the protec-
ton of the trailing arbutus. But L
wouldn't stop there. l would provide
for badge OF FURNISHED silver and to
be not less than six inches in diameter.
And then let these deputies skulk
through the woods.
'Let these deputies trail the happy
May parties and capture them in the
act of pulling up and breaking off at
the roots this, the may tlower-pardon
me, | mean the trailing arbutus-and
then infiict upon them the punish
ments which the law provides,
''And, less you understand my rea-
sons, let me tell you why | suggest
this size and kind Of badge. 1t is SO
tlldG Ciic rays vi ZIG sun Inlay NC lellOCeCo
upon its surface, thereby acting as a
warning to the innocent children en-
gagged in this pernicious practice of de-
stroying the May mean trailing ar
butus-that they may escape the hor-
rors Of the prison dungeon. Iaughter.)
Gentlemen, there are none OF us too
old to forget the springtime of life, the
time when everything was full of buds
and roses. We remember those bright
and happy days when we strolled
through the woods, and seated by the
silvery brook, pulled up the May-no.
trailing arbutus, and wove it into a
garland which we placed upon the
brow of her whose blue eyes or perhaps
they were brown, who had won the
boyish love, and who in the days which
have since passed have helped to make
you better man and Legislator than
you would otherwise have been. And
l don't believe that one of you feel
that that was a criminal act"
For Over Sixty Years