Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-12
Emphatic Protest from the Lead.
ing Citizens in Hundreds of
the Towns of Maine.

Believing that the location of the State Capital general
the seat Of the peoples government and the proposition
under discussion particular the Capital from Augusta
to Portland matter to be decided by the feeling of the
people of the whole State by whom the State government is
established and in behalf of whom its seat maintained the
Journal holds the most important factor coming decision
in the discussion OF Capital removal be the sentiment
of the people, Of city section but Of all Of
the State.
This sentiment according understanding of popular
government should be paramount rising superior local
lied aiming the removal Of the Capital Port
land when such movement backed by offers assuming
akin purchase money We loa to believe that
the time has when such honorable institution the
visible scat and center of the peoples government to be num-
bered among those barter and exchange to be knocked
down the highest bidder. Such proceeding is i'll i'll keeping
with the principles of democracy for the visible seat OF
that government purcasab where the limit be drawn?
Rather believe that the principles of democracy demand
the settlement of this question solely according to the sentiment
Of the people, and believing this has been endeavor
possible 10 obtain expression Of this sentiment We
have therefore, sent the letter which publish herewith to
citizens in all parts of the State No discrimination has been
allowed into its distribution except i'll far the
attempt reach the prominent persons IN every town.
such as Carmen Of Seecmen and Masters OF local Oranges
as able speak for the sentiment OF their community
be taken Irrespective OF party or LOCATION the letter
las been sent to all parts Of the State.
Few of the men are personally known and had no
wav Of knowing in advance what view they or their fellow
townsne might with reference to the questions sub
ntted to them But while very few Of the writers OF ese
letters are known personally to the editors Of the Journal we
feel that nearly Of them will be known personally
to the Senators from their respective counties ana to the KEEP
rcsenaves from their respective districts The members OF
the Legislature better qalted therefore, tan are we y
saw whether or not the these letters express be taken
as fairly representative of the taxpayers for whom they speak
We leave it. therefore, for the members OF the Legislature
to saw in view this general and emphatic expression OF pop
, c;,r whether the proposition build State House
IN Portland is not the unpopular measure SO TAR as the
voters Of our State are concerned that has been before the
Maine Legislature in the past eighteen years
Every signed reply which receive Will be published without
reservation and without regard to sentiment expressed therein
HIT 50 great the number that will be impossible to print
them all in one issue The published WILL therefore,
cnresen in 50 far as possible through such medium the
feelings of the people the State of Maine regarding the pro-
noa to remove the Capital to Portland Expressions OF ol-
ion from Cumberland and Kennebec counties have been omitted
s morning for obvious open to the Objection OF
, too ,,risan and because in they offset each
other.