Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-15
The Porcupine Law.

The Porcupine Law.
About the only issue" that seems
left to the Democratic party is the
porcupine bounty and that is dead
one. The facts about this matter are
too we'll known to the people of Maine
TO admit OF much deception. Certain
Washington gentlemen petitioned the
Legislature for a bounty on porcupines
claiming that they were 50 numerous
in that section that they were proving
very destructive to the forest trees.
The bill providing for such bounty
was not a party measure. 1t received
in its passage the votes of both Dem
ocratic and Republican members, and
carried an annual appropriation of
$500 which it was thought would ne
sufficient. Unfortunately the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans who voted for
this measure had no way of knowing
the actual number of porcupineS in
Maine No census of them had ever
been taken. Men who had traversed
the woods considerably and only seen
them occasionally We're of the opinion
that they We're moi very numerous out
side of a few localities. This view Of
political party. The Democrats We're
no wiser concerning it than the Re
publicans. The bill became law,
with the result that the State sudden
| " awoke to the fact that porcupines
| We're far more numerous within its hOr-
| ders than any o1e-Democrat or Re
| publicar-had ever dreamed they were.
| The call for bounties largely exceeded
the appropriation. When the next Leg
islature met it promptly repealed the
porcupine law. 1t is no longer upon the
! Statute books. 1t has passed into his
tory. 1t was resurrected from its grave
by the Democratic leaders this summer,
| made to appear as a Republican party
measure, and used as the principal is
sue" of the Democratic campaign aside
I DelndDS, from tHt VI lilt
| saloon. With the great questions in
volved in this campaign, issues thar
vitality affect the future peace and
prosperity OF our State the Democrat
ic party has nothing to do. 1t cheer
fully lodges them all after the manner
of D. ]. McGillicuddy of Lewiston who
|
al Congress, and has yet to state his
position on single national question
They endeavor to distract the atten-
ton of the people by projecting into
the campaign matters that have little
or no bearing upon the welfare of oul
State. The average Democratic speech
runs like this.
National issues are not involved
in this campaign, if they wer,
present prosperity. The Republican,
lave been guilty of spending large
sums Of the peoples money. They sa!
they spent EN- for the promotion of ths
peoples interests. schools. agriculture
hospitals, pensions, good roads, care o
: insane etc. Bosh, gentlemen, al
, bosh, Just let us in and We'll show
Well agree to cut expenditures of
generally and thus avoid the spendini
of money. 70 the dogs with progress:
and improvements. Let us sit down
Let us wait! Let us economical.
BY the way did any Of you ever hea
about that obstreperous porcupin
, law"
Voice: Been repealed hasn't it,"
Yes but let me tell you something
about its iniluitous workings Nv"
Voice: democrats voted for it. didn'
i. they"
a Yes. | regret to say that many o
, the measures We condemn have -
-. ceived Democratic SUPP rt in the Legis
I,ture. But you must remember tina
our party has been i'll the minoriJ
there. democrats in the minority ofte
do foolish things. If there We're NOR
of us-if we had a MAJORITY assur
you upon my solemn word that W
! should be much wiser Now let us re
turn for an hour or 50 to the porcu
pine law, etc, etc