Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-30
Direct And Indirect Taxation,

Waterville MailD
In reply to the facts and figures pub
lShed extensively showing just how
heavy burden falls upon the property
owners of Maine and how great are the
returning advantages, the Democratic
editors are asking whether a man can lift
himself by his boot straps Just what
bearing the ability to elevate ones self
by Juggling away in an effort to perform
an impossible feat has upon the condi-
ton of the States finances is not easiIv
understood, but it WAS demonstrated
sometime ago that Democratic orators
ana newspapers are not particular about
eliminating what is not gcrmanr To the
proper discussion of business politics and
connnlng themselves to what is pei in, az
ms disposition to shy into some d.tcn
AT the SIGHT of certain indisputable facts
mas never been 50 prominent in Demo
cratic State politics as the present time
but that fact is explained by the extra
ordinary desires of Candidate Davis and
ms political associates to get Whlrk at
the State resources. People who are very
anxious and Som,nvhat unScrupulous ar.
often willing To throw dust into the ewes
OF more honest folks. if by doing so. the
truth Of matters can be kept unseen
The Democrats are following that very
policy this ye@r. Confront them with the
tact that the TAXPAYERS of Maine pad but
&lS. la 10 towards the running cXpcusC5
Of the State in 1%h; in reply to their
claim that SS.0On.10 are required TO do the
entire business of the State, and Pattan-
gall rises in dignity and asks if We get
any money from New Hampshire. And
then he evolves from some corner of his
wonderful mind the puzZling query Can
a man raise himself by mis- boot straps
OF course a man might argue that the
$4,000 which Andrew Carnegie gav,. to
the people of Watcrvillc for a public Ii
Drary came ut some time ont of the peck
cts of the pcople of Waterville in the
~ II .ttf C1tNxE .
money tbs Of the hardware dealers of
the city and thence indirectly into tn"
immense income from which the Scotch
philanthropiSt took the amount Of cours .
4 man might argue that Candidate Davis
knows from actual experience that be
mind every successful business Ventur,.
there must be money and it must be
the money of the people first and the
money of some capitalist afterwards But
Pattangall knows well that Davis finan-
cial eleration has not been attained by
any pulls on the latter's own boot straps
the force Of his energy has been applied
in other directions.
Are Pattangall and Davis and their as
sociates succeeding in their attempts to
fool the people by subterfugc?
When the truth is 50 plain as to be
undeniable that the taxpayers of the
state pay into the State treasury for
1906 the sum Of $glS 17419 ard that cor
porations turn in 81. s. 1851 for the p res
ent year. the claim that the people of
Maine actually contribute the whole
amount is on par with the contention
that Andrew Carnegie did mot give
Watrrvile a library fund but that thu
people of the city actually put up the
10000 which the steel king accommodate
ingly paid over.
The Democratic ambition of 1906 IFS great
but the enthusiasm Of ambition often
carries men beyond the bounds of good
sense. Shying INTO the miry ditch and
people that State expenses indicate State
poverty will not lead Maine folks astray
this fall. any more tn IN such tactics piled
years ago.