Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-13
Plain Facts vs.. Anonymous Democratic
Mis- statements.

| One of the most remarkable dotu-
ments which has been seen in Augusta
for Many years was the feeble attempt
of the local Democracy to bolster mp us
cause in the last issue of the New -\s''
Such a tissue Of Misrepresentation
and cool gall has not been liii'ic'eu
upon the taxpayers of this city III 'he
past decade. Evidently the parties re-
snonxib,e for the screed imagined that
the taxpayers of Augusta would not
have time before election day to ascer-
tain the facts which would fully ana
completely refute the allega''o''" VI
,h;s d...ar,ie appeal to political preju-
dicAs The cause of the Augusta Dem
ocracv is certainly in sad straits wien
it feels obliged to resort 10 sue"
methods to gain its political ends. Inc
screed TO which we refer appears III Tie
|
Nov. Ace addressed ITO the Taxpayers
of Aueusta." but so bald are its mis-
representations. 50 unw'rraiteu are
IFS differences, that even the AUTHORS
did not have the nerve to append their
names to it, and it appears in the New
Age without anybody to stand sponsor
for i, as ANONYMOUS as il is anomalous.
Not being under any obligation to have
this remarkable screed printed over
their own names. its authors naturally
feel emboldencd 20 make assertions and
draw differences which they never
would have had the courage to do if
they had been required by the editor Of
the Age to sign their names like men
concoctcd. thereby permitting the tax
payers of Augusta, to whom they ed
dressed it. to know precisely who stood
behind its alleged statements of fact
and what basis of authority it had for
its far-fetched attempt to impeach the
magnificent administration of local
affairs III this city under Republican
rule.
The editor of the Journal has never
yet eva[:ed the responsibilities Of his
position, and in replying to this article
cheerfuliy assumes the responsibility
for the statements herein contained.
He has no reed TO defend Republican
rule in Augusta; neither has he felt it
necessary 20 resort to anonymous
screeds, for the record Of the party in
Augusta has been one in which every
citizen may feel a just pride, L record
of permanent improvements, of civic
DIOSTeSS, vi utol anu VI Il
higher and better standard Of munich
pal life; one of which every citizen, no
matter what may be his politics, may
cheerfully endorse. and one which just
Is entities the party under which these
results have been attained to the con-
tinued confidence and support of An
gusta citizen Perhaps the nerviest
thing i'm this anonymous address ITO
the Taxpayers Of Augusta" which APP
peared in Fridays New Age WAS the
attempt to compare the last Demo-
cratic administration, Of 1898. with the
municipal administration under Re-
| publican rule last year. Does not
every citizen of Augusta. who lived
| through the narrowing year of 1893, re-
member the utter Inactivity of the
Democratic party? 1t was year in
which not one foot of permanent street
was laid; year which added nothing
| to the sewer system of the city; d year
| which did nothing in the way of side
walks for the people; Il year when even
the SHOWS Of winter were not removed
in many parts of the city. and the resi-
dents of Augusta. were forced TO wade
to and from their places of business.
It was an administration so inCOmpe-
| tent. one so inactive and 50 unsatisfac-
| tory that at the close of the municipal
year, the citizens of Augusta rose en-
maSSe to drive it from power, and since
| it's enforced retirement il has been a
period Of II long years before any
Democrat in the city of Augusta has
plucked up courage enough to even re-
fer to il. and even then it was thought