Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-04
The Meeting Of the Legislature.

papers are full of it, the people talk
about it wherever gathered. and for
three months. more or less, the work Of
ants is discussed, scrutinized and criti-
ciZcd from kittery to Calais and Fort
Kent. This is as it should be, for the
work of our Legislators is the work of
the 100000 people whom they represent,
and the NOR. general the interest and
participation in matters of legislation
the stronger the assurance that the
principles will be faithfully guarded
upon which our form Of government is
erected, and that the session will re-
suit in the greatest good for the great
est number.
The I'D Maine Legislature. which is
formally organized at the State House,
this morning. is made up Of strong
and earnest men. typical sons Of the
great State which they love and labor
for. If they are the equals Of their
predecessors-and there is every rea-
son to believe they are-they Will
make up a legislative body without d
superior for integrity and intelligence
among the legislatures of all the states
in the Union. Maine has reason to be
proud of the general character Of the
men who meet to make and change the
laws and to appropriate the public
money by which the interests of the
State are properly cared for and its
institutions maintained.
In some states the meeting Of the
legislature is d stencil in the nostfils
of decent citizens; there is riot OF
graft and IA reign of Doodle, while one
scandal follows another. Happily
Maine knows no such conditions as
these. The record of its Legislatures
since 1920 is one to be proud OF. with
little indeed i'll il that needs apology or
cxpllnation. If our legislators have
made mistakes. it Is only to say that
they were mortal men. IL can be SAID
of them almost without exception that
they were inspired by the highest
motives. that their purposes were ABB
so,u.ely honest. that they aimed to
serve all the people rather than IN
diyiduals or sections. and that they
were loyal 10 their State and sought to
keep it's fair name untarnished.
We believe that it is in this lofty
shirt that the I'D Legislature meets,
TO-DAY. and enters upon the work which
lies before it in the coming months. It's
members come from all sections ana
all walks of life: some have had legls-
l,tiyc experiencc and more have not,
but all are representative men OF Maine
and all realize the responsibility ana
the opportunity before them. There
is nlenty of work to be done, and many
honest differences of opinion VIII ARISE
before il is completed. Special ana
private interests will seek advance
mcnt not always consistent with the
public good There will be many APP
pcals for the appropriation of money
which it will not be good policy e
grant. At times there will be clouds
and fog so that the best path to follow
will be hard to find. But for the
legislator who follows his honest con-
yictions AMI keeps in mind his sworn
duty to the State the way Will usual!
be plain and the performance Of his
work Il pleasure and a credit.
Although in both branches the usua
large majority of the members are lie-
rublicans. and although the party a.
such is responsible for the legislator
of the session, there are likely to be
few occasions when party lines VIII bt
drawn or political differences made
prominent Every right of the minor
i,y members will be respected and
they in turn will not fail to recognize
the rights Of the majority or to remcr'
her that the Republican administration
of State affairs and Republican prlnci'
pies and policies in general were over
whelmingly endorsed by the people OF
the state at the fall elections.
The winters work here together
means many pleasant things for th'
members of the Legislature. Not th'
least of these are the new friendships
formed: for whatever the difference:
which exist at first or arise later. tn
members are all good fellows togethe
with many common interests. Au
custa has cordial welcome for then
all and will do it's best to make thel
sojourn here an enjoyable one. The!
will find that the unkind things &C
casionally said in the newspapers
other places regarding the Capital Cit!
have little foundation of fact and ar
little merited. The beauty OF the cit!
itself cannot be fully appreciated in tn
winter season, but they will find 1t ;
place of open hearted people ant