Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-26
Tussday, February Is, 1907.
"Fair Play" in the Portland Press.

SoPAtdA REMOVAL movement, and there
fore 1t is charitable to assume that it
has been made the victim of a bunco
game by modern Ananias whose
sense Of humor leads him to sign him.
self Fair Play" Just as the city Of
Portland has been trying to sell the
State a gold brick in its "offer'' of $780,
900. so now somebody is gold bricking
the trustful editor Of the Press with the
most remarkable bit of literature
which the present controversy has
evoked. This is a half-column COM
munication which appeared in Mon
days Press. embodying what purports
to be a copy Of the letter sent out by the
kennebec Journal to those in every part
OF Maine whose replies to the number
Of nearly 1000 in opposition to capital
removal have been published in the COL
umns Of this paper
Now there is no mystery or secret
whatever in regard to the letter Of in
quiry which the Journal sent out. A
full copy OF it was published in our
columns with the first installment of
the answers received. There is every
reason to believe that the editor of the
Press along with all other Portland
editors read that letter in our columns.
Yet Fair Play" has deceived him into
r,ffh1lchiny v-hntIvy in,
every way. Following is copy of
the Journals letter Of inquiry" says
THE correspondent of the Press. and
then he proceeds to give a long letter
of. which not single line or sentence
appears in the Journals letter Of in
uuiry! 1t is distortion of the facts
OF which we know the Press would not
be Intentionally guilty. 1t is an abso-
liite disregard Of the truth which neith-
paper would deliberately resort TO in
any controversy. and we are confident
the Press viii be prompt in its dis
claimer and that it will hold it's cor
respondent responsible for the imposi-
tion practiced upon it's editors and its
readers. and for the injustice done this
paper.
The Journals letter of inquiry which
has resulted in an avalanche Of answers
from every section of the State, Of
which 40 out of so express emphatic op-
position to changing the State capital,
was simple request for the opinion of
those to whom it was sent with an
added request for the general senti-
rnent Of their community on the mat
ter. 1t was sent to town officials.
masters of subordinate oranges and
former members OF the Legislature.
We have published the full text of this
letter and it speaks for itself 1t was
not a "one-sided argument as the
Press correspondent calls it. or an ar
gument Of any kind for that matter.
1t was not "a wholesale appeal to ig-
norance and prejudice" 1t was y brief
and simple request for an expression of
the sentiment of the people Of every
town in Maine. and was sent to men
who, from their positions and local
prominence might be expected able to
know and voice that sentiment. We
did not know in advance the positions
OF those-to whom this letter of inquiry
was sent.
These facts have been stated over
and over again in these columns. Yet
in it's zeal to help pull the mangled re-
mains of the capital removal move
nient out Of its deep grave where the
overwhelming sentiment Of the people
OF Maine has buried it. the Press ad-
n.its to its columns this astounding
communication from Fair Play con-
taining a letter Of which not single
word Is copied from the Journals let
ter OF inquiry of which it processes to
be a COPY! Do the friends of the
Portland movement think such tactics
will help their cause? What has the
press to say to such use of its col
u,nns? What will it say to that cor
respondent who secured its publication
Of letter bearing no relation whatever
to the letter of which it purports to be
q copy?
lust as there was no secret or mSs-
terry about the letter Of inquiry when
the Journal sent out. so there IS no
secret or mystery about the letter OF
which a copy is published in the Press
communication. This was sent 10
those who were circulating remon-
strances against capital removal. The
former letter was sent out as means
of learning the sentiment OF the people
Of Maine and was sent to men OF local
nrominence in every town whose 1eei-
ins in the matter we had no way OF
knowing in advance. The latter letter
was sent to those known to be OPP
posed to capital removal. urging the
canf the