Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-14

found that his wish was to be denied
then he would simply Suggest the refer
cnce of the measure TO the people of the
State To give a concrete Illus ratiun, jf
the senator from PiscataTuis should ;eel
that the renewal OF the insane asylum
in Bangor would be beneficial to his Iown
or county. he would simply file in the
( Legislature an order of inquiry into the
eXpedience Of such acii)n, and then.
seeming impending defeat, would tack
onto this proposed legisl l.ion the refer
endum to the people. If by arousing
prejudice against the city Of Bangor. lie
could get the support OF q matt rity I'll
the Legislature to grant him this favor,
then the people would be obliged to go
to the annoyance and great expense OF
an election.
Carried TO its logical conclusion. such
procedure would mean that the L.egis
lature of this State would be az unncc-
essary assembly, and there would be no
need Of State House for any legisla
tors. An office building for the conven-
fence of the office holders of this State
would be all that would b. required, This
idea is so at variance with the principle
OF the initiative ana referendum that it
seems to require no argument n show
its inherent weakness. although it pre-
sents the plausible inquiry Are You
afraid of the people,
To procure legislation under the initia-
tive and referendum, which will be pass
eli at this Legislature, it will be necessary
for a certain per cent of the voters Of
this State to make 4 demand through
lctitiuns. No such action was ever taken
on the pending question, but We arc ask
cd to shirll our responsibilities as leSis-
lators simply ID crafty the ambition OF
Portland. AS has been wei said, the
bill should be defeated whore it Originate
Cd, in the Legislature; it did not originate
with the people and they should not br
bothered with it,
BY yielding to this plausible request Of
the agitators of this measure, the Lcgis-
llture forces upon the citizens Of this
State an expense OF not less than $4,000
for an election in June,-2 month when
the citizens Of Portland can readily at
t.nGi to business of this kind, but Il
month when the rural section of this
State is employed in their spring farm
ing; and when Won consider that the
bulk of the opposition, cryStaiZed III
these forty thousand four hundred and
twenty-ninc remonstrances, has como
from, the rural section where the great
burden of the taxation would be borne
# this scheme materializcs, is it not Il
safe and fair conjecture that this month
has been wisely selected 50 as to benefit
thickly settled Portland and put to Il
: great disadvantage the rural part Of the
State?
Further and more uniustly. as ii seems
10 me. this unusual referendum would
force a campaign upon the people of this
State. in which Portland with her great
wealth would practically be arrayed
against the city of Augusta. limited in
resources, but practically representing
in thi matter the people Of The State.
Would it be fair? Should Portland b.
; authorized under all these circumstances
to misuse the very theory of the
initiative and referendum?
Tho sincerity of the Portland al+1catcs
of this referendum is well illustrat 2 by
the arbitrary course which they 'hetn
out to local opposition to this mc..,,ra
and shout down a local referendum.
On Monday, March 4th the Board OF
Trade of Portland held mass mectin;3
{ t. forward the purposes Of this move
quito fully given in the Portland Daily
Press. but was edited" out fthe Other
Portland papers so that the outer word
would not know Of any opposition thll
there appeared.
/ wish 10 read from the Portland Daily
Press'S report
when Mr.. Cloudy had finished (and
shall later refer to what Mr.. Goudy sal ]
Mr.. Cummings arose to speak again. A
clapping was started and this was KEEP
up for two o. three minutes C'rhc rea-
son appears later which was evidently
anticipated by this assembly of fair mind
cd men.) It looked as if the crowd was
trying to show its unwillnGncss to hear
Mr. Cummings hut Mr.. Cook raped for
ordc: ana Mr.. Cummings said:
Il would like 10 ask if the gentlemen
who favor vote Of the people Of the
State would stand for vote Of the peo-
pie OF Portland On the $4,000 and site
part of tho argument
MIR. Wish said: There is not time for
sr;ch a thing MIR. Cummings: i am
afraid you arc not sincere, Mr.. Wish.
Mr.. Wish (risinG and speaking hotly>:
I ! am sincere
Mr.. Cummings: i did not mean exactly
that, Mr.. Wish. / meant that ] did not
think you would favor such a thing if
there was time
about dozen ring leaders shouted
'Wc would
''Tnen why don't YOU said Mr.. Cum
mirgs.
:" There isn't time fairly shouted NOR
/, thar half the assembled men and the
'cOnHa1' was over
Mr.. CLARKE-Will the senator permit
me to interrupt him again? CONSIDERING
: the time at which that meeting was held
would you not agree with the unanimous
opinion expressed herewith the exccp-
ton of that one man-that there was II
time in which to have q referendum on
that particular question?
) Mr.. IIESELTON-I viii state in reply
to the gentleman from Portland. what is
apparent to every man in the state ot
Maine whether he is on his SIDE or on
+ my side of this question: That the city
: of Portland which is 50 comractly To-
f Gated could within two or three weeks