Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-08

On motion of Mr.. JOY of Eden, Dill,
An Act to incorporate the Winter
Harbor and Eastern Railway Com
pany, was taken from the table.
On further motion by Mr.. Joy the
vote whereby the bill was passed to
be engrossed was reconsidered.
Mr.. Joy offered an amendment to
Section three by inserting after the
word 'mentioned' in the fourth line
the words excepting the city of ELS
worth"
The amendment was adopted. and
the bill was then passed TO be en-
crossed as amended.
On motion of Mr. KnoWlton of Mon
son, the bill 10 abolish Fast Day and
create Patriots Day was taken from
the table.
Mr. KNOWLTON: Mr.. Speaker,
when moved TO lay that bill on the
table / Gid so in good faith. / do not
like ITO see those old things that we
have enjoyed in the past done away
with without the tribute of sigh. L
know in these practical days a lot 81
those good old things are regarded as
too slow, and the argument in favor
of abolshing Fast Day is that it is
not kept as it ought to be and as 1t
used to be- | admit that. That same
argument would abolish almost every
holiday we have. The Fourth of July
instead of being day devoted to
patriotism is one devoted to rowdy-
ism now days mostly. We used t.
keep a good many anniversaries, but
am sorry to say many of them are
not kept very we'll now. We used to
keep our birthdays; we don't do that
very much days. We used to
celebrate our marriage day; our di-
vorce courts have made it very dis
agreeable to do that nowadays. ]
admit that we do not keep Fast Day
as we ought to, but l cannot forget
that those good old Pilgrims-and I
thank God they lived and l am equally
thankful that l did not live when
they did-established that day, one
day in which they could especially
ask for the blessing of Heaven to
come upon them. l am inclined to
think we ought to keep it today. 1
am inclined to think that it would
not be a bad idea to have our Cover
nor once in two years try his hand al
more 1 am inclined to think if we sub
stitute Patriots Day instead Of Fast
Day that there would be very little Of
the Battle of Lexington talked about
on that occasion. Baseball and horse
trots would occupy the time. But
had / known that my friend from
Portland (Mr. Jordan) had introduced
this bill l should not have tabled it.
The bill came in as logical sequence
of conditions. Portland is in favor OF
new things-ncw State House, new
| water board and new day of celc-
bration. And so / withdraw all OBJ
lection l have to the passage of that
bill. but / could not do so without
protesting in my own feelings and to
this House against the idea, and 1
would oppose it most heartily did the
gentleman from Portland not assure
me that he was in direct communica-
ton with n great many clergymen
and that they were in favor of abol-
ishing the day.
Mr.. JORDAN of Portland: Mr..
| Speaker, l introduced that bill that
| the anniversary of Lexington should
| be substituted as a holiday and be
| known at Patriots Day. This is in
| line with the action which has been
taken in Massachusetts where Fast
| Day has been abolished and Patriots
| Day substituted. Practical as well as
sentimental reasons seems to justify
| this action, because Maine people as
well as those living in Massachusetts
| should avail themselves of this oppor-
| tunity to exchange days. l see no
good reason why this change should
| not be made.
Mr.. WALDRON of Dexter: Me.
Speaker, 1 had hoped that the gen.
tleman from Monsoon when he arose,
arose for a different purpose. / am
not opposed to the adoption of new
holiday. I don't think we have
tenough, but I am opposed to the abo-
| lition of Fast Day, and I am going
to move that this bill be indefinitely
postponed. 1t is good day, it is an
ancient day, it is part Of the history
| of the State of Maine. move that
the bill be Indefinitely postponed
| Mr.. NEWBERT of Augusta: Mr..
| Speaker, I cannot see why any man
should stand on this floor in these
modern days and champion Fast Day.
l was minister for II years and /
never read a proclamation of the Gov
ernor that did not strike to my stom-
ach when he called upon the people
of Maine in these modern days to fast
and pray on a certain day in spring.
time, when no man, no woman and
no child obeyed the Governor and the
Governor expected no person to obey
that proclamation. 1t ought to be
called by the different name. it ought
to be written "F-a-r-c-e, Day.