Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-12

them is, therefore, worthy of consider
alton.
The 81 officials who consider the loca-
ton of a states capital in a small
Importance are almost unit in hold
ing that as such a city, as compared
to the metropolis Of the state, there is
a much better chance for clean, popu-
lar legislation, since in the smaller city
the increasing influence of the large
corporations, and lobbying in their be
half is less felt than in the larger city.
1t is an important point, for one has
but to consider the trend OF national
far the large corporations as such are
a factor in the field of politics and 10
realize perhaps i'll part the magnitude
of their Efforts to prevent adverse leg
islation.
The metropolis Of the state by the
very nature of its being draws most
Of its growth and activities from the
location there of the local center at
least Of the largest corporations in the
small city to the metropolis would be
to move it into the home Of the COR
poiations. 1t is not to be understood,
of curse, that the corporation is neces-
arlly corrupt or an agency of evil or
that the city in which they center
should be considered in any such light.
The large corporation is an existing
reality. ana in arguing for the separa-
ton of the capitol ana the metropolis
the various officials have done SO not
out Of any feeling against a metropo-
lis itself, bat simply because it is
deemed better to separate the seat "f
the States government and the seat Of
the powerful corporations concerning
which they must legislate.
Ex-Governor La Toilette of WiscOn-
porate influence. las stood steadily for
the separation of the capitol and the
metropolis for Just this reason.
Moreover officials favor1ng the loca-
ton of a state capital away from the
| largest city argue in the light of their
experience that such an arrangement
makes greater efficiency Of tile govern
mental machinery and for more thor
ough and less distracted work; in a
| word, for better government in general.
| The 20 officials who hold central 10
cation the most important factor of
consideration % 50 for 4 very obvious
reason. Tie capitol is the property OF
no part Of the state and as the seat OF
! the peoples government Ii should be
| located 50 as to put no one section un-
reaching it, The application of the
principalc, as we'll as that of its predc-
crssor in regard to Portland's present
effort is apparent.
OF the thrc" nI!icially-thrc" out oi
57-who favor the larger City, one does
50 for personal reasons ana one Will,
doing 50 admits ut the same time the
increase Of danger Of corporate intlu-
cnceS.
hclc then is Il body of = state OF
| ficiaIs trained in the conduct Of state
affairs. and experienced in watching
their workings who in considering the
question of capitol location, simply IL
= general proposition in the interest:
If the best government stand u to
in favor Of conditions as rcprcsente,
by Augusta as compared to those rep
resented " Portland q significant pre-
pondrl;tncr from 4 significant source.
| And if any choose TO feel that th'
ISituation III Main" does not come with
lin the score Of the experience and TIL
lprinaiplcs III which these opinions ar
biased. rather holding. and rightly too
that the present question Of capitol re-
moval is Il matte" for Maine to decii'
herself he has bat to turn to anothc
page of this issue to see how Maine
citizens stand on this question, an;
realize how large a part the acceptance
of these same principles has played il
the determination of that stand.