Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-16
MAINE LEGISLATURE,
Continued from Page One.)


every member of this Senate who has
any regard for fair play and for de-
cency to step upon an attempt of that
character. The senator from Eennebec,
in referring to my attitude upon this
question. stated in very strong terms,
that l lnisreprescnted my county, and
made a great deal of very strong talk
In regard to my attitude on the ground
that l had been honorcd by having
been a member OF the Councillor dis
trict which included kennebec.
Gentlemen, I hope my vision is broad
enough to extend beyond the confines
of the county of Lincoln or the Coup
ti!Or district which l represented. I
hope | am large enough to be able
when a question comes up which in
wolves the interests of the entire state,
TO lay aside the remembrance of the
fact that | represent one little town, or
half a dozen small towns, or even a
county, and look upon the matter from
. the standpoint of the whole State an
attitude which. as any sensible and eX-
rerielced man of any brains whatever
knows, is the proper and logical one for
2
. OF such great proportions.
il there We're n matter of local i'm
rortancc before us and I had received
petitions or remonstrances from the
people of the county which | represent,
ard those remOnStranceS contained
captions Of such a character as to indi-
Gaze that the people who signed those
petitions We're not being misled by pos
, tive misrepresentation. such petitions
or remonstranceS would have great eff
, feet upon my Vote. If. however, on
State issue, l thought the people were
mistaken CT l2isinfGrmed and that |
had better opportunity than they to
observe the conditions under which
4 bill pending We're to pass and to esti-
mate its possible effect / should ia
the matter up with them and try tn
convince them that l vas right; and
if | did not succeed, looking upon my
SELF rs Being in q better position to
judge correctly concerning the matter
than they possibly could be the probu-
bility of the case is that l should vote
J il: accordance with the dictates of my
| conscience
| During the last campaign l plainly
! stated to the people of my county-and
| no one voted for ne under any mistake
at least no one had any excuse for do
ing S0-that on questions affecting the
interests of the entire State, and
spoke ct the time particularly with ref
crcrCc To thc question OF reSubmiSsion.
that | should not necessarily be guided
! u the wishes. presumed or expressed.
! Of the pcoiiIe Of Lincoln county. l said
AZ tn time. and think have been con-
sistont. that l SHOULD take INTO consid-
| Grafton the entire circumstances Of q
! given case the conditions as they cX-
iSteG throughout the whole State and
! then should vote in accordance with my
! belief as to what constituted the best
action with reference to the interests
| of the entire commonwealth. That is
! my answer to the inSinuatiOn and acCu-
SatiOns heaped upon me by tn" senator
from Kennebcc in our recent d bate up
on the pending bill. In conc.Ieion, I
say that an attempt, this mo! iting to
shut off and StranGla this m tiSure,
which il Of the greatest impOrtah' be-
| fore it can have an opportunity |" be
! discussed by Tho members of the ot'l r
body. in view of the fair and honest
eXprcsSion of opinion rendered by cE-
cry single senator sitting in his seat at
the time when the vote WAS taken, is
uuvarrantcd and unfair and is per-
version Of decency and justice. | hope
that some Of the members who voted
against lie first reading of this bill
xiii change theft minds and Vote in ac-
cordance with which thcy must plainly
So" constitutes principle ana harness
mon this occasion.
1, mo-
tion to indefinitely postpone, n" yea
ana ravs wt~, called for and ordered.
Mr.. CLAR!IE-Mr President. may I
a,ld. When a great municipality such a'
is Portland comes before us with mu
tuaIlv beneficial proposition involving al
cxprnditure-a voluntary expenditure
urrr its part of about Il million dollars,
when we all know That the county Of
Cunt rland ana great many places
OUTSIDE the county OF Cumberland Wanl
this measure to g through with the idea.
not CT assuming FIR ourselves the reSp3ii-
sibility Of changing the location Of thH
State House, or Of binding the state ID
do 50, but simply with the idea Of put
ting it up to the people, proposition
which. SO far as any other bill IS con
crrncd your action would seem to indi-
cate ought to meet with your approval
[ say that the members of this nate
are almighty inconsistent when tine; r.
fuse that request. | sat here and lis
tened 10 the senator from l\enncbec
about 4 week ago. when he was discuss
ing this same question. the referendum
as applied to the resuhmission of th'
gprohibitOry amcl iment. If | recall hi
words CORE ctly-and if | do not recall
, them verbatim my impression OF them
will al least be n substance correct-h
said with great emphasis: Are YOU
AFRAID to trust the people,
ask you, gentlemen. and particularly
the senator from kcnnebec. are YOU SC
afraid 10 trust the people in this mat
ter and to trust the members OF the 9th
or House in this matter that You Will. II
spite of the plain inconsistency OF YOU: