Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-30
A New Development in the 3. & A
Discussion

cohhectioh with the present cam
paign has been the attempt Of Mr.
Davis personal organ to explain away
the vote of the 45 Democratic men,
bers of the Legislature in favor of the
partial abatement of taxes granted by
the State in aid Of the Bangor and
Aroostook railroad. 1t has had sew
eral explanations to offer, but each in
its turn has not proven altogether
satisfactory. The first one was that
these As Democrats had been ode
ceived" and "bulldozed'' into accord
ing this measure in aid of the growth
and development of northern Maine
their cordial and united support. Evil
IDENTIFY this did not meet with the ap-
prevail Of Candidate Davis, who was
not disposed to admit that the men,
bers Of the Legislature who had repre-
scented his party at the Capitol were
Of the calibre to be deceived" and
"bulldoZed."
Following this the editor of Mr..
Davis newspaper. with heroic self
abasement, came out with a signed edi-
torial relieving his chief of all re-
spOnsibility for this remarkable ex-
PLANTATION and cheerfully took it upon
his own shoulders. At the same time
he recognized its inadequacy. and in
approaching the subject again he
adopted new hypothesis. This time
he asserted that the Bangor and
Aroost"ok measure was slipped
through the Legislature 'surreptitfous-
ly" while the Democratic members OF
that body, As in number, We're peace
fully snoring in their seats.
But even this ingenious explanation
the voters that was anticipated by the
Democratic managers, hence it seemed
advisable to adopt still another theory
which WOULD not be open to the OBJ
jections that had been urged against
the first two. This time the editor of
the organ asserted that it made not
"the least difference in the world how
the little band of Democrats in the
Legislature of 1891 voted on that bill.
1t was not a subsidy bill. but merely
one authorizing a contract, and the
contract under it was not made until
four years later" This is certainly a
very original method of shifting the
responsibility. The argument is that,
inasmuch as the contract for which
the Democratic members of the Legis-
lature voted was not made until after
the expiration of their terms of office.
they were relieved of all responsibility
for the support they had accorded it!
Viewing this matter candidly we are
inclined to think that this is the poorest
and most far-fetched Of the three
separate methods which have been
adopted by the editor Of Mr.. Davis
organ for explaining away the record
Of the Democratic members Of the
House and Senate of 1891 in their
unanimous support of the Bangor and
Aroostook bill, which Mr. Davis at
this late day so severely criticizes,
and endeavors to make an issue in the
pending campaign. From first to last
Mr.. Davis and his organ have per-
sistently and vociferously asserted
that the Republicans were responsible
for this legislation, and now comes
Hon. ]. p. Bass, leading Democrat
Of eastern Maine. the owner Of the
Democratic Bangor Commercial, and
says that he was responsible for the
making of this contract. Mr.. Bass is
one of the best known citizens of
Maine, a man who has been for many
wears a leader in Democratic coun-
ellis. He is recognized not only as
one Of the ablest men in his party. but
as a broad gagged. progressive bust
ness man who has contributed in many
ways to the progress and prosperity of
his State. Mr.. Bass deplores the at
TEMPT of the managers of his party to
misreprescnt the Bangor and Aroostook
contract with the State in a desperate
and djscreditahle effort to gain partisan
advantage therefrom. at was,' says
Mr.. Bass, "merely matter of business
and was so represented to the judg-
ment of all the members of the Legis-
lature and was carried through the
committee, the House and the Senate
in an honorable manner. / know
that it voiced the sentiment of the 40
Democrats in the Legislature of 1891
who were in harmony in regard to this
matter" Continuing, Mr.. Bass de-
clared that he personally was response
BILE for the contract being made; that
he was in Augusta as business man,
who was interested in the development
of Names great northern territory,
and that he urged upon his Demo-
cratic friends in the Legislature, with
whom his views carried great weight,