Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-20
R0US|NC REPUBLICAN
RALLY AT BUCKF|ELD,
Able and Convincing Addresses by Hon.
J. P. Swasey and Hon. ". B. Ske|-
ton on National and State Issues.

Buckfield, Me, Aug. 19.--(SpcciaD.-
A rousing Republican mass meeting
was held here tonight with addresses
by Hon. John p. Swasey of Canton and
Hon. William 3. Shelton of Lewiston,
Mr.. Swasey speaking in an able and
convincing manner on national issues
ami Mr. Shelton paying MS attention
in an able, concise and convincing way
to issues now of interest in our State
campaign. The audience was large and
enthusiastic, greeting the speakers with
hearty cheers and often intcrrupting
them with liberal applause. Mr.. Shelton
said, regarding State issues:
The question now before the people
is whether they will continue the ad-
ministration of the States affairs in
the hands Of the party which has been
in uninterrupted power for nearly 80
years, or will make a change. Good
business requires that the management
of any enterprise be continued unle So
there Is cause for a change. This APP
plies to government as we'll as to pri-
waite concerns. The Democrats rccog-
niHe this principle When they base their
claim for office on alleged shortcom-
ines of the Republican government.
The Democratic candidate for Con-
gress from this district in d speech at
Lisbon Falls some two weeks ago, in
which he confined himself almost en-
tirely to State issues, outlined the DEM
ocratic case. He based it substantially
on three issues-alegcd extravaganza
IN State expenditures, the railroad tax
rebates, and the prohibtOry law with
its allied questions. | propose to meet
these issues as raised and in their or
der.
In one respect the charge of unwise
expenditure Of money is difficult to
discuss, because it is a charge made in
the vaguCst possible manner They
point to increased appropriations with
out pointing out any particular item of
Importance that they would reduce. In
fact hardly an appropriation has been
made that has not been supported by
Democrats and Republicans alike The
Democrats have been as eager in ask
ing and as active in securing them for
all purposes as the Republicans. Party
lines have never been drawn on them.
1T is fact, however, that the adj
ministration of Gov. Cobb has made q
remarkable showing in this respect.
, While the appropriations for good
roads, for schools. for hospitals and
Tor all worthy enterprises have been
increased. the finances have been so
managed that it has been possible in
three years to cut the States bonded
debt in FalyeS, to reduce it from ST.
100000 to $4,000 from Jan. l. 1905. to
Jan l, 19oS-as much in three years as
the law requires in 10.
But Mr. McGilicuddy says the eX-
penditures. of 1907 were increased
5000, 900 over those Of 1906. If he meant
to convey any impression. it was that
the party had been guilty Of 100000 Of
wastefulncss in that year, over all pre-
vious items, that these increased eX-
pendiiures We're all unjustiiicd. Be
cause he neither particularizcd nor
qualified his statement. He Intentional
ly left that bald assertion in the minds
of his hearers with all of the jnicrcHcCS
cunningly suggested.
| 1T there were no Legitimate excuse
for any considerable part of the items
making up this total. the party should
be rebukcd. If there was such excuse
and the speaker deliberately refraned
. from coupling it with his assertion, he
should be rebuked.
What are the facts? And at the very
outset we are met with evidence of the
speakers artfu!ncss. He selected a
Legislative year to compare with one in
which there was no session of the Leg
islature. BY failing to frankly explain
this he failed to account for more than
one ninth of the increase. He might
have told his hearers that nearly an
other ninth consisted of the increased
amount paid on the bonded debt; that
5000 900 more went to pay temporary
loan. $165 41f.26 for the Insane hospi-
tails besides increases for schools. State
roads, state beneficaries. He could
have followed the list through and &C
counted for every cent of the increase
without discovering a single item that
he would criticize. except that Tor the
Sturgis Commission, which we will dis.
cuss later. Fairness would seem tC
suggest that he had done 50.
They criticize the increased expense
of running some of the departments
and point to the fact that it cost $3.50
5S to run the insurance department
! against $1,000 in 1882 But the income t6
the State through the increased magnl'
, tude Of the work of this department
was 1882, 1868 against $11,0S4.09 in the
former year In other words. while the
expense has been multiplied by four the
income is II times as great. They dc
7 not give this side of the ledger.
The Waterville Sentinel, the recog
nized Democratic organ and which i:
the mentor of this campaign so far a:
tine Gubernatorial contest is concerned
s hewails Republican extravaganza dur
ing all the years and alleges that thu
wasteful expenditure of money coupled
with an unfair system of taxation op
presses those who can least afford t.
stand it, This paper is edited by w. r
Pattangall. who was a member OF th'
7 81. -: II, 1Gl1 In diScuSSipSr thi: