The Somerset reporter., 1906-08-09
rtpresentatton VIII Avail
Nothing

Satisfy Yourself of the Facts as Here
Presented
The Hon Cyrus ". Davis. Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor of Maine,
and the Hon Daniel j. McGillcuddy,
candidate for Congress in the second
District have been the first to speak in
the opening campaign, aid each, after
mounting the usual specious argu
ments relative to the Democratic de-
mand for resubmission and bypo-
critical advocacy of temperance and
honesty" have dwelt upon the method
and scope of state expenditure and de-
claimed against Republican extrava-
gance with all the power of their lungs.
Mr. McGillcuddy's statements were so
devoid of exact and intelligent detail
and his untruths SO glazing that they
could by no posi- bility deceive intelh
gent voters
Candidate Davis has made his plea
more artfully, evidently knowing enough
about the subject to twist figures to his
own uses But the whole aim and in
tent of his discourse appears to be TO
deceive by half truths.
The Maine voter who is getting ready
to lick the end of his lead pencil de-
serves to have facts that are unas-
sailable-whether those facts shall in
cline him 10 the eide of the admistra-
ton or against it Those who hold
the keys should be ready at all times to
give an account of their stewardship.
In the c,se of the dominant party in
Maine, Its managers assert that they
are only too ready 10 give such &C
count, their sole care being as to how
they may reach all eyes and ears.
The books of the State tell the story
tell the whole story. Hard cold un
assailah!e facts are "figgers' IN every
instance.
DR.. u, Langtry Crockett, that pic
turesque stormy petrol OF Knox county
politics, has always averred that he
enjoys being in the minority
There's nothing he says, "like be-
I ing ON the outside aud having some
thing to harp on "
" hat the Democrats after being 80 ut
terry walloped two years ago on their
chosen battlefield of state finances
and expenditures should again charge
on the Republicans across that stony
hClNi ohud AAiO lihpI wan
of indisputabie statistics is a strange
evidence of fstuity.
1t may be that Candidate Davis
thinks the people have short memories
1t may be authoritively announced
now at the outset of the campaign that
the Republican managers propose to
follow MIR. Davis int every coun y and
up n every rostTum where he may give
voice to his juggled facts, perverted
figures and unjus fable conclusions,
and show by actual and indisputable
! figures that he Is trying to hoodwnk
| the proletariau of Maine. If one
voter were deceived by the figures that
Mr.. Davis presents, the managers OF
| the Republican campaign would feel
that they had been remiss in their duty
! tC the people, who are the sovereigns
and who deserve ito be shown" even
though this is Maine and not Missouri.
Each county has it's own financial
balance sheet with the STATE, to be
shown all in good season to the voters.
At the outset, however. some matters
of general STATE interest claim atten'
ton, having been made the topic of Mr..
Davis preliminary "harping
Ope of his great concerns is that the
amounts paid to State officers in the
last twenty years have increased IN
totals. He simply says that these
amounts have grown To such and such
| figures, and passes on without the
least explanation as 70 why they have
! increased.
| Now the aphorism, "busness is bust
ness" applies, whether it's states bust
ness or the business of an individual.
| The fact that Mr.. Davis in his present
a fl lence is spending more money than
he did twenty years ago may properly
be considered sign of progress aud is
certainly justified, if not demanded by
his present circumstances and environ
ment
MIR. Davis in advocating the return
of the state of Maine to Its old basis
of restricted financial expenditure, is
striking a blow at our State pride in
! legitimate progress and at the
satisfying of actual needs required by
our improved in INSTITUTIONS and mode of
handling public utilities The fact OF
the matter is, MIR Davis if put to &C.
tual test of 0eeds would not drag the
State back thus on any consideration
for he ends each speech by CECILIA
ration that il he and his party ever get
into power. he proposes to expand
and build up and "develop" and SC
forth" TO an extent" as Spartcus once
SAID. hitherto unknown even in this
luxurious capital
AS a business man Candidate Davis
knows considerable abou the need OF
money in expanding and elevating
aud "developing. If be has dis
covered any method of doing more
business and al the same time spend
ing less money, he should give it to the
world
The fa.acy of Mr. Davis reasoning
and the unfarness of his attitude may
be unders ODD a bit more clearly whel
one has the actual figures at hand
There's the matter of State salariet
which seems 10 be keeping Candidate
Davis awake nights jlst now.
The actual figures from the ledger,
are:
1855, expenditures were si32L463.4I
1855, income VAS I,447, 66o s:
1905, expenditures were 2,42&5o2.oz
1905, income was 1908 .ooS.o7
1891, cost Of Legislature 100000
1905, cost Of Legislature 100000
1882, salaries Of State officials 48,g2oI;
1882, salaries Of clerks, etc S.25o,oI
1902, salaries Of State officials $4,000 al
1902, salaries Of clerks etc. 1855
In the last 20 years many new depart