Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-25
"Rinq Rule" In kennebec.

kept standing in the columns of the
Democratic newspapers, and they APP
pear in big job type on the dodgers
with which the Democrats are flooding
the State. They sound well and are
calculated to impress the people with
the idea that Republican control of af-
fairs always means ring rule and
that the Democracy is the party of "the
people" the party in which everybody
has a voice and in which bosses are
unknown.
How much sincerity is there in this
hullabaloo which the Democrats are
continually raising against ring rule"
Let US note for a moment a recent in
stance here in kennebec county in
which we feel sure all Democratic vot-
ers are interested. When the Demo-
cratic county convention was held in
Augusta this summer, how were its
proceedings carried on? Did the peu-
pie" have any voice in its doings? Did
tlc dcIN5dttS " liic by
the Democrats Of kennebec have any
thing to say about the men who were
put in nomination? Was that conven-
ton d case Of trust the people" or
the most fragrant instance of ring
rule" ever seen in kennebec county?
Shortly after the convention opened
and before any nominating speeches
could be made. or any steps taken to-
ward expressing the wishes of the del
eeates as regards their nominees, a
rild- and smooth-spoken le-
gal gentleman from Augusta arose and
time and trouble if committee were
appointed to draw up a list of cand-
dates for the various county offices.
The little speech was made on the the
Dry of the man who believed in using
molaSseS rather than vinegar to catch
flies, and while the delegates We're smil-
ing gratefully at the blarney bestowed
upon them by the mild-mannered and
smooth-spoken legal gentleman, the
suggestion was pushed through and
the committee appointed. Perhaps the
delegates half realized what was hap
pening, and perhaps they did not. 1t
may have been a case where they were
''bulldozed" and deceived" as Demo-
cratic members of the Legislature are
alleged by the Waterville Sentinel TO
have been when it appears that they
voted for any legislation which Demo-
cratic editors and spellbinders now find
it convenient to denounce.
Anyway, quicker than the story can
be told, the committee was appointed
it's deliberations, doing the thinking
and voting for the delegates in the
main hall, The committee consisted of
Is men-an unlucky number indeed for
the great body of delegates whose
rights had been adroitly snatched away
from them before they knew it by a
little coterie of Augusta and Water
vile politicians; and an unlucky num-
Der for the Democratic voters of Ken
nebec county who are expected to cast
their ballots for the slate made up by
the ring. But this is not all When
the committee came back and reported
the names of three of its members ap-
peared upon the list of nominations
which it had drawn up One of them,
it may be observed in passing, was the
name of the mid-mannered and
smooth-spoken Augusta lawyer who
had suggested the appointment Of tho
committee,
Oh, no. this was not ring rule" This
was allowing the people to manage
their own affairs! This was trusting
the Democratic masses! With what
sincerity and consistency that little
gang of Augusta and Wateryille Dem
ocrats. who worked this game upon the
county convention Of their party, now
goes out upon the stump Throughout
the State and denounces Republican
ring rule" and fills the air with
shouts of back to the people"
The picture is not in the
least overdraWn. This is actually
what happened in the kennebec coun-
ty Democratic convention. Much
there has been by many
of the delegates and other Dem
ocrats since that day. as they have
realized how completely they were
One of the bosses indeed.
" no put through the game and whose
name appears on the ticket. has been
heard to express the opinion that il
might have been wiser after all to have
allowed the delegates to make their
own nominat lions.
But the ring rule did not stop with
he convention. One Augusta Demo-
rat, who is closely associated with tie
little cOterie of bosses. was anxious to
De a candidate for a county office. hut
lid not succeed in getting his name